Reports: Australian players unhappy with Justin Langer's tough approach; ask for change of style

Former opening batter and the coach of Australia team Justin Langer is known to be a fighter and a tough nut to crack. As a player too, he never used to give up without a fight and would always display grit and determination during the tough times. As a coach too, Langer has instilled the same qualities among the players in the team and always strives for consistency.

He took over the role of head coach from Darren Lehmann on May 03, 2018, after the infamous Sandpaper saga and steered the young team as a leader and coach. Apparently, the players are now unhappy and not satisfied with the operating styles of Justin Langer and team manager Gavin Dobey.

An end-of-season review of the team, which included the opinions of 40 players and support staff, has stated the players want more freedom and control in the dressing room. If reports in The Sydney Morning Herald are anything to go by Langer and Dobey’s coaching styles are the main cause of concern for the players who feel is disturbing the atmosphere within the team.

Justin Langer comes under the scanner

The review only confirms the reports which had come after Australia’s 2-1 shock loss to India in 2021. During the high-profile series, it was revealed that players were facing difficulties in coping up with Langer’s intensity and micro-management.

“This is effectively identical to the process undertaken before the last World Cup and the 2019 Ashes where the team performed strongly. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to on- and off-field improvement and we expect it will have a similar benefit in the team’s preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup and home Ashes,” Cricket Australia’s national teams boss Ben Oliver explained to SMH.

There was another review meeting held which was headed by Tim Ford, the team’s leadership consultant, which was aimed to see players’ perspectives. Ford interviewed players virtually and took their valuable inputs on what changes they wanted going forward. The report will now be presented to Australia’s leadership group-Tim Paine, Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins.

Cricket Australia (CA) has now claimed that Ford’s review meeting was not as hard on Langer as the player review and the 50-year-old head coach will be appraised soon. Langer’s four-year contract comes to end in 2022 and the renewal of it will solely depend on the response from the former opening batter.