Trouble in paradise: Justin Langer’s teaching type below scrutiny

After the Test sequence loss towards India, Justin Langer’s teaching type has come below scrutiny. Sources near the staff informed The Sydney Morning Herald that the Australia head coach’s “headmaster-like” type of administration “wore thin” with gamers. According to the report, Langer’s depth and temper swings have drained skilled gamers, who’ve spent months on finish in both quarantine or bio-bubbles.
The actuality sandwich
According to the report, throughout the remaining Test in Brisbane, Langer ordered a participant to cease habitually stuffing a toasted sandwich in his pocket earlier than strolling onto the sector.
“You’re walking on against India, we’re trying to win a Test match and one of our players walks on with a toasted sandwich in his hand,” Langer — whose contract as a three-format coach and selector lasts one other 18 months — was quoted as saying. “I spoke to (the player) about it at length yesterday. I said, ‘How do you reckon it looks, mate?’ Is that not something I should say?”
Micro-managing bowlers
SMH additionally studies that some senior gamers are annoyed by the micro-management, with Langer bombarding bowlers with statistics and directions throughout lunch breaks.
Langer denied the accusation: “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. And the learnings of the last few months are I should start looking at that more.”
Langer’s response
On Friday, Langer stated any suggestion of deteriorating relationships with gamers “couldn’t be further from the truth” however added, “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.”
Not the primary time
A earlier confrontation between Langer and his gamers over his teaching type — after Australia did not regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy two years in the past — was a distinguished theme of the Amazon-produced documentary The Test: A New Era for Australia’s Team’.

The coach was given a stern message throughout a staff assembly after the 2018 Boxing Day Test drubbing. Captain Tim Paine needed Langer to be extra constructive and batsman Usman Khawaja requested him to not make issues “too complicated”.
“We can’t always control the result. You get better as individuals, players, staff, everyone, be in better control of that emotion, be more level-headed, without trying to make it too complicated,” Khawaja was seen saying. “I think that’s what the boys are trying to say. Does that make sense? If it doesn’t then…”
When requested the place the message was coming from by Langer, Khawaja replied: “Um, I think the boys are intimidated by you, Alf. I think there’s a bit of the walking-on-eggshells sort of thing. I feel like I think the boys are afraid to say it.”
An previous New Year’s Resolution
After the 2-1 defeat in 2018-19, Langer resolved to be extra mellow for the ODI sequence in India. Changing his method, he allowed gamers to take extra management over the coaching. The staff got here again from a 0-2 deficit to win a five-match sequence.

“(The Test series loss to India) was a massive wake-up call and a really tough time in my life,” Langer stated on a podcast. “I’ve got no doubt in 10 years’ time, I will look back on that period and it will be the making of my coaching career.”
After the 1-wicket defeat in Leeds throughout the Ashes, Langer waited a day earlier than conducting a autopsy to keep away from an emotionally-charged suggestions session. Australia struck again to win at Old Trafford and, whereas they misplaced at The Oval, managed to retain the Ashes.
All appeared nicely final 12 months. In October, after the opening spherical of Sheffield Shield matches was dominated by fringe gamers, Langer referred to as it a tell-tale signal of an excellent period when “it’s harder to get into the Test side than out”.
Then India came to visit once more…