Bad blood: Australia’s World Cup failure reignites feud between current, past players

Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup failure has widened the rift between the current men’s team and the country’s golden generation - and it’s an issue likely to continue bubbling through the summer.

Nine months after Justin Langer quit as coach, the ill feeling between the two groups over his acrimonious departure has escalated, with multiple sources from in and outside the team camp speaking of a growing disconnect.

While it is not uncommon for there to be tension between generations, due in part to the criticism past players deliver in their media roles, there is a particular edge to this feud, as noted by several former cricketers without a stake in the contest.

The drama stems from the belief held by several of Langer’s close friends and former teammates that current players conspired to remove the West Australian from his post. Test skipper Pat Cummins explained in February the team wanted a “new style of coaching”, having raised eyebrows through the Ashes with his refusal to endorse Langer.

It has emerged that former great Matthew Hayden, one of Langer’s closest friends, has particularly ruffled the feathers of players with his criticism this week of Australia’s planning for their Cup defence.

“But certainly from an Australian cricket point of view, there has to be planning heading towards world cups,” Hayden said. “They’re the premium events. They’re the events that everyone across the world plans for, and Australia, unfortunately, just didn’t get it right.”

Working as a mentor for Pakistan, Matthew Hayden’s criticism of the Australia side has not gone unnoticed by players.Credit: Getty Images

The former opener gave another interview in which he said the team had shown no sign of improvement since Langer’s departure - a comment which can on the surface be backed up by their performance in the T20 World Cup but overlooks their historic Test victory in Pakistan.

This has been interpreted within the team as a thinly veiled criticism of coach Andrew McDonald, who assumed the reins from his former boss Langer.

It prompted a strident defence of the former all-rounder, with sources pointing out the Victorian was the head coach in all but title last season when he plotted out the team’s successful T20 World Cup and Ashes campaigns.

This is consistent with senior paceman Josh Hazlewood’s candid comment 12 months ago that Langer had taken a “big back seat” in the United Arab Emirates.

Hayden’s critique has raised the question among players why their predecessors are taking pot shots instead of helping, though there is a reluctance among former stars to be involved with the set-up having seen how Langer was treated. Hayden, a team mentor for Pakistan, declined to comment when contacted by The Age.

Players have so far kept their counsel publicly, but frustration is building behind the scenes. One player made his indignation clear to another former great during the tournament disappointed that details of what he felt was a private conversation were divulged on the broadcast.

A source close to the dressing room told The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald of players taking screenshots of criticism and keeping them in the memory bank.

Despite the unceremonious nature of Langer’s departure, numerous sources have said players have no personal issue with him, they just did not want him to remain as coach.

The Australian Cricketers Association will canvass current players for their views but does not believe the issue warrants their intervention, feeling it may exacerbate the situation, though will reconsider should relations deteriorate further.

With the likes of Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Langer himself all holding prominent media positions, the saga is unlikely to go away through the season, particularly if Pat Cummins’ men underperform against the West Indies and South Africa.

Langer is the star recruit for Seven’s Test coverage, where he will provide expert analysis and take part in player interviews should they occur during his shift.

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