Division is 'disastrous': Langer calls for unity after drastic cuts

Justin Langer has called for the game's feuding parties to unite as the sport comes to grips with drastic austerity measures that threaten to dramatically impact the national men's side.

Though Kevin Roberts' ousting as chief executive is being viewed by some in the game as a circuit breaker for Cricket Australia, the governing body still needs to quell anger among players and states over its financial forecasts.

The future of the board of directors itself is also in doubt with states keen for reform to give them more visibility over the affairs of head office.

The $40 million cuts announced earlier this week have already cost Langer the services of batting coach Graeme Hick, and he is bracing for more changes to his support staff.

Sources have indicated his touring back-room staff could for smaller tours be cut down to about seven, which could require some jobs to be done remotely. The number is more than the skeletal staff present at the start of his playing career in the early 1990s but about half of what he had available during last year's World Cup and Ashes campaigns in England.

Langer remains keen on being able to use former greats such as Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey for key series.

Justin Langer will have a smaller support team with him on the road.Credit: AAP

The changes mean Langer is likely to have to take a more hands-on approach to his job. Langer had initially struggled to cope with the demands of the role, a point he acknowledged in the Amazon documentary The Test, but he has since delegated more of his duties to his assistants so he could focus on fostering team culture.

Langer said CA would need to be "creative" in how it resourced the side based on the importance of tours and series.

"We had 14 or 15 people on the road with us a few months ago. That will change a little bit but it certainly won't be as dramatic as it was back when I was a 19-year-old kid," Langer said.

"We'll all survive. We'll be a bit leaner and sharper that's for sure, but we'll survive, we'll adapt, and the players will still get the service required to put a great product on the team collectively and individually."

Australia's batting coach Graeme Hick, left, has lost his job.Credit: AAP

Langer had been an advocate for a selector on duty to tour but flagged changes to this practice, though it is yet to be finalised with national teams boss Ben Oliver.

Langer said breaking the news to Hick was "like facing Curtley Ambrose and Courtney Walsh without a helmet and a box on", as he admired the former England player for his integrity and work ethic.

Despite being made part-time in April amid CA's mass stand downs, Langer said he felt sympathy for Roberts but refused to criticise the former chief, who sensationally departed this week after just 20 months at the helm.

Having played a key role in restoring the reputation of the national men's side, Langer said he was hurt by the recent dramas and said it was vital the game pulled together to see its way out of the crisis.

Langer threw his support behind WACA chief Christina Matthews to get the top job but acknowledged bias as he counted her as a close friend.

"It will take some real diplomacy skills, some great leadership. It's really important for our game that someone or some people or a number of people work hard, that we're all going in the same direction otherwise it's disastrous," Langer said.