'It has been embarrassing' - Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden lambast Cricket Australia for Justin Langer's departure

Justin Langer stepped down as the head coach of the Australian cricket team with immediate effect on 5th February 2022. And, Langer’s former teammates Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden opined on Langer’s departure.

Ponting said that Langer’s exit is a sad day for Australian cricket. The former Australian skipper added that the way Cricket Australia has dealt with Justin Langer has been embarrassing.

“I think it’s a really sad day as far as Australian cricket is concerned. And if you look back, it’s been a really poor six months. I think of the way that Cricket Australia as a whole have handled some of the better people in Australian cricket, Justin Langer and Tim Paine, I think it’s been almost embarrassing with the way they’ve handled those two cases,” said Ponting as quoted by Cricket Australia.

It was absolutely clear no one backed him: Matthew Hayden

Former Aussie opening batter Matthew Hayden said that no one backed Justin Langer. Hayden also said that it was hurtful that Australian Test skipper Pat Cummins did not even offer support to Langer. Adding that the whole episode looks like it might have been orchestrated, Hayden concluded by stating that the writing was on the wall for Langer.

“It was absolutely clear that no one backed him. If you listen to the Australian captain the other day did not mention once any kind of commendation or support for him, I don’t think (Justin) would be going very well at all. That would be extremely hurtful.

“The whole thing just reeks of being orchestrated, basically from the moment all of this garbage started coming out (about Langer’s coaching style) in winter last year. You could see the writing was on the wall,” concluded Matthew Hayden.

The Australian cricket team will next take on the Sri Lankan side in a five-match T20I series at home. This T20I assignment is scheduled to kickstart on 11th February 2022 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Meanwhile, Andrew McDonald has been appointed as the interim head coach of the Australian cricket team.