Australia head coach Justin Langer feels that he cannot “ignore” reports that certain senior cricketers are frustrated with his coaching methods. The Western Australian man said that it is a “wake-up call” for him and that this criticism will be helpful in the weeks to come.
It all stems from the debacle of losing a home Test series to India. Many in the squad are reportedly under the microscope according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.
The report goes on to add that senior players find assistant coach Andrew McDonald more approachable than Langer.
“I’m not going to ignore this, of course, and absolutely it is a wake-up call. Whenever I finish this coaching career I hope I’m still calling myself a novice coach…I’ll see this criticism as a great gift in a few weeks or months,” Langer told ESPNcricinfo.
“My greatest mentors in life are the people who told me the truth and were toughest on me, and I’ve always needed that honest feedback. I might not enjoy it at the time, but it is so, so valuable,” he said.
Langer’s micro-management is reportedly the root cause of tension in the Australian camp. It is also believed that his interaction with the bowling outfit leaves a lot to be desired.
However, Langer refuted these claims. He said that he never micro-manages the bowlers and seldom attends their meetings or talks about stats to them.
‘Leadership not a popularity contest’
“Leadership isn’t a popularity contest. If players just want someone to tickle their stomachs all the time then I’m not doing my job,” Langer told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“It’s actually the opposite of what happens. I never talk about statistics to the bowlers, ever. I don’t go to any of the bowlers’ meetings. That’s what the bowlers” coach is meant to be doing,” he added.
The Cricket Australia executives are set to meet on Friday for the first time since the series defeat to India.