‘Inaccurate’ and ‘disappointing’: CA responds to explosive Langer interview

Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley has issued a stern response to Justin Langer calling out Test captain Pat Cummins’ role in his demise, the anonymous “cowards” who leaked against him and CA’s board for his unceremonious sacking last summer.

Hockley said former coach Langer’s comments, made in an exclusive interview with Code Sports, were filled with inaccuracies.

“We have not commented to date other than to correct inaccuracies, of which there are a number in Justin’s comments,” Hockley said.

“Regular formal and informal opportunities to provide and receive feedback took place throughout his tenure, which is consistent with a high performance environment.

“Following a comprehensive process, Justin was offered a short-term contract extension, which he rejected.

“I am disappointed by Justin’s comments unfairly criticising some of our players. The playing group are aware they have my full support.”

Langer revealed Cummins and white ball skipper Aaron Finch finally gave him “brutal” feedback, long after the whisper campaign against him started.

“I spoke to Pat Cummins. He said to me about five times, ‘This might be brutally honest’. I said, ‘Pat, there is nothing brutal about your feedback. What is brutal is I’m hearing it behind my back through the media or through sources. No one’s telling me. Tell me’,” Langer said.

“Everyone was being nice to my face but I was reading about this stuff, and half of it ... I could not believe that is what was making the papers.

“A lot of journalists use the word ‘source’. I would say, change that word to ‘coward’. A coward says, not a source. Because what do you mean ‘a source says’? They’ve either got an axe to grind with someone and they won’t come and say it to your face, or they’re just leaking stuff for their own agenda.”

Langer said his biggest regret was his lack of relationship with CA’s board, which still sacked him after he changed his ways and won the T20 World Cup and Ashes.

“The hardest thing for me of all of it was: I got the feedback (and) I did something about it. We won the T20 World Cup, we won the Ashes. We were No.1 in the world. I’ve never enjoyed coaching more and I’ve still got sacked. That’s the hardest thing,” Langer said.

“Because you can’t give someone feedback, do something about it, and then that to happen.

“But I talked to the Cricket Australia board three times in four years. That’s craziness. And that’s the only thing I’d do differently. Because when you know people haven’t got your back, there is no lonelier place in the world. When you do know people have got your back, there’s no more powerful place in the world. And that’s what I would have done differently.”

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW ON CODE SPORTS