Cricket 2022/23: Justin Langer with members of Australia’s support staff in Perth

Justin Langer seems to be attempting to mend his fractured relationship with Australian cricket, having been spotted with members of the team’s staff in Perth.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: Justin Langer Head Coach of Australia is seen during an England Ashes squad nets session at Blundstone Arena on January 14, 2022 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Justin Langer has continued the peace process in his fractured relationship with Australian cricket by having breakfast with team staff members in Perth.

Langer was spotted having coffees with members of the Australian support staff on Sunday morning, although it’s understood there weren’t any players or coaches present - some of whom Langer says he has interacted with in recent days.

The meeting came as former Australian captain Mark Taylor urged Langer and others involved in the ongoing saga to unite to put the game first instead of the individual.

Mark Taylor has urged Justin Langer to put the game of cricket ahead of personal differences. Picture: Mark Brake - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images

“The only thing I would say to Justin or to players or administrators in general, is I’d like to see everyone just think a little bit more about Australian cricket … before they make comment,” Taylor said on Channel 9.

“I don’t mean Cricket Australia. I mean Australian cricket.

“Because it doesn’t damage the brand irreparably, but it’s not great for the brand of Australian cricket.

“… Let’s have a bit more positivity around Australian cricket and a little bit less talk around individual brands, and a bit more about the team brand or the nation brand.”

Langer wrote in his column for the West Australian that he still regarded players as his “friends” and “younger brothers.”

The former coach says he has exchanged messages and calls with numerous players in recent days including Pat Cummins, Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon.

“This rubbish dialogue of me fighting with the current team must stop. Simply because it is not true. They are my friends. They are like my younger brothers. Anything said to the contrary is false,” Langer wrote in the West Australian.

“For four years we drank, ate, celebrated, strategised and lived together.

“We fought back from ‘sandpaper gate’ and Covid together and we won the T20 World Cup and Ashes together.

“Was it always perfect? No, it wasn’t. What business, what team is always perfect? I have never met a leader who is every single person’s cup of tea. Again, that’s life.”

Mitchell Starc confirmed that the Australian team addressed the Langer sideshow at a team meeting before training on Saturday in Perth where they vowed not to let it become a distraction.

Justin Langer has described the players he coached as his ‘younger brothers’. Picture: Kolbe - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

Privately there was a resolve from captain Pat Cummins and players to embrace the crowd and the Test, sign autographs and to focus on putting the game first – regardless of what reception they might receive from the outside.

Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood said players were only focused on what was being said inside the four walls of the change room.

“I didn’t give it one second of my day really. I don’t read hardly any media. Any of the papers. I’m not really fussed with any of what the commentators, or past players or JL have to say really,” Hazlewood said.

“It’s just about what’s inside these walls with this group and I obviously wouldn’t know what he says or how often he says it, I’ve got no time for it all.

“I think a lot of the players are probably in the same boat, they don’t give it the time of day and are just focused on what’s coming up. There might be a couple of players that read into it a bit, but it doesn’t fuss me at all.”

Originally published as Cricket 2022/23: Justin Langer with members of Australia’s support staff in Perth