Langer resigns as Australia coach
File Photo - Jastin Langer |
Justin Langer has resigned as head coach of the Australia
cricket team, his management company said on Saturday, ending weeks of
speculation over whether he would be offered a new contract.
Langer's departure followed media reports that he had
reacted angrily during a recent meeting with Cricket Australia over his
contract and had been asked to reapply for the role.
After another meeting on Friday, Cricket Australia said the two parties were involved in significant contract discussions.
Langer's representatives, Dynamic Sports & Entertainment
Group (DSEG), said he has resigned with immediate effect.
"DSEG confirms that our client Justin Langer has this
morning tendered his resignation as coach of the Australian men's cricket
team," the company tweeted.
"The resignation follows a meeting with Cricket
Australia last evening. The resignation is effective immediately."
Langer's tenure culminated in a 4-0 thrashing of England in
the Ashes series, and he leaves with one of the best overall records since
Australia first appointed a full-time coach in 1985.
However, there has been frequent speculation he did not
enjoy the full support of the dressing room.
Senior players and Cricket Australia managers met last year
amid reports Langer's intense coaching style had rubbed players the wrong way.
Australia test captain Pat Cummins recently praised Langer
for doing a "fantastic" job but said it was only fair for Cricket
Australia to conduct an evaluation process before making a decision on renewing
his contract.
Langer, 51, leaves less than a month before Australia tour
Pakistan, their first visit to the country in 24 years.
He took over as coach in the wake of the ball-tampering
scandal in South Africa in 2018 and his contract was due to expire in June.
Langer, who earned 105 test caps, said last month he was
proud of how the team had been performing.
"Whatever happens from now on, we can all be incredibly
proud of this little period," he said on Australian SEN Radio. [L4N2OZ321]
"We had two missions: to win the (Twenty20) World Cup
and to win the Ashes.
"To do that in such a short period is a monumental
effort and we're all really satisfied with that, we're all really happy about
that, we're all really, really proud of that.
"I sit here at the moment feeling really content with
the last two series."
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