Justin Langer rejected insulting short-term contract extension

Justin Langer was so insulted by a token contract extension, he flatly rejected it before resigning as Australian coach.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 06: Head Coach Justin Langer during an Australia Ashes squad practice session at The Gabba on December 06, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Justin Langer was reportedly insulted by an extremely short-term contract extension to stay on as Australian coach, which he flatly rejected.

After months of speculation over his future, Langer resigned as coach of the Australian men’s cricket team on Saturday morning, effective immediately.

Langer’s four-year coaching contract was set to expire in June, and there was mounting speculation as to whether the 51-year-old would be granted another multi-year deal due to ongoing player dissatisfaction.

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On Friday, the Cricket Australia board had a marathon eight-hour meeting to discuss Langer’s contract, but could only confirm they would enter “confidential discussions” with the former Australian opener to ensure an outcome “as soon as possible”.

But on Saturday, Langer’s management confirmed he had tendered his resignation.

“The resignation follows a meeting with Cricket Australia last evening,” a statement from Langer’s management group DSEG read. “The resignation is effective immediately.”

Speaking to reporters on Saturday afternoon, Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley confirmed Langer was only offered a six-month contract extension and there was no room for scope beyond that.

Hockley revealed the CA board unanimously decided Langer would not be offered a longer contract.

CA’s boss was profuse in his thanks to the now ex-coach for his efforts in turning the fortunes of the Australian team around in what is a highly demanding job.

But he said the board had decided the time was right to move towards an era of “unity”, in a thinly-veiled jab at Langer.

“The team has evolved,” Hockley said.

Justin Langer was only offered a six-month contract extension. (Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images for the Australian Cricketers' Association)

“We felt we were ready for a period of transition.

“These decisions are not straightforward and are not always popular.

“We were pretty clear with Justin that is was for a period of transition.”

CA’s desire for a succession plan of sorts clearly displeased Langer.

A six-month extension would have allowed him to see through the tours of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India in the subcontinent, as well as the chance to defend Australia’s World T20 title on home soil in October-November before bowing out.

There had been speculation Langer was hoping for a multi-year contract extension and the six-month contract didn’t sit too well with him.

According to The Australian’s Peter Lalor, Langer was reportedly insulted by the token offer when it was put to him on Friday night and he rejected it immediately.

The offer came after Langer this week turned down a lucrative bonus to help Cricket Australia’s bottom line during the pandemic, while also conscious several staff members had lost their jobs due to budgetary pressures.

A six-month contract extension would have kept Langer in the job until the end of this year but crucially, it did not guarantee he would coach Australia to the next series in England in 2023.

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

Langer was at the helm when Australia retained the Ashes 2-2 in England in 2019, but he would have been desperate to remain coach until the 2023 away series, motivated by the goal of becoming the first Australian side to win an away Ashes series in England since 2001.

It’s believed Langer resigned before getting on a plane to return to fly back home to Perth for the first time in six months.

Mickey Arthur, who coached Australia from 2010 to 2013, slammed CA for leaving Langer in limbo, arguing if CA didn’t want him to be the coach long-term it should have just sacked him.

Arthur tweeted: “Disgraceful way to treat a coach ... offering 6 months is a slap in the face!

“Either give him a proper extension or move on, by offering 6 months you effectively say you don’t want him but don’t have the balls to fire the bullet!”

CA said in a statement: “The contract extension offered to Justin was the result of a thorough review process that evaluated many factors including future requirements of the team and the upcoming extensive schedule of fixtures.

Langer resigned as Australian coach after rejecting the offer. Photo: Michael Klein.

“The extension was approved by the CA Board and was put to Justin last night. It included the opportunity to defend the T20 World Cup title in Australia at the end of this year.

“Justin informed CA this morning he was not accepting the offer and would resign with immediate effect.”

Hockley also said Australian cricket will be sticking with an overarching head coach role, rather than splitting the coaching of red and white ball teams into two separate roles.

In the meantime, assistant coach Andrew McDonald will take over as caretaker coach ahead of next month’s tour of Pakistan.

Australian cricket greats including Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden have slammed Cricket Australia’s handling of Langer’s contract situation.

Ponting said the saga was “almost embarrassing” and labelled it “a really sad day as far as Australian cricket is concerned”.