Australia news – Justin Langer resigns as Australia men’s head coach

Langer resigns following meeting with Cricket Australia on Friday night

The announcement was made via a statement from Langer’s management company DSEG on Saturday morning while Langer was flying from Melbourne to Perth.

“DSEG confirms that our client Justin Langer has this morning tendered his resignation as of the Australian men’s cricket team,” the statement said. “The resignation follows a meeting with Cricket Australia last evening. The resignation is effective immediately.”

Langer’s manager James Henderson, who also manages Ricky Ponting, Tim Paine and Cameron Green followed up with his own statement on Twitter.

“As a player Justin retired on top after a 5-0 Ashes whitewash,” Henderson wrote. “Today, despite the views of a faceless few, he finishes his time as Australian cricket coach winning the T20 World Cup and the Ashes. Lest we forget what JL took over in 2018.”

The decision comes less than 24 hours after a marathon eight-hour CA board meeting where Langer’s contract was discussed at length. Langer’s current deal was due to expire in June and he was seeking a long-term extension. Langer had held multiple contract discussions with CA chief executive Nick Hockley and CA head of national teams Ben Oliver between the end of the fifth Ashes Test in Hobart and yesterday’s board meeting.

CA made a statement on Friday night following the meeting that it had entered into “confidential discussions with Justin and the outcome will be announced as soon as possible.”

Langer has walked away from the job he coveted after those discussions. It is clear that the views of senior players have played a big part in Langer’s resignation. Langer’s relationship with certain players had been fractured for nearly 12 months.

The meetings were mediated by Hockley and former CA chairman Earl Eddings. CA released a statement confirming Langer would remain as coach through the T20 World Cup and the Ashes. Langer himself held over 30 individual zoom meetings with players and staff while in quarantine to hear complaints about his coaching style. He vowed to change his style and believes he did through the T20 World Cup and Ashes where he was far less involved in the day-to-day coaching and far more relaxed than he had been previously.

Australia won the T20 World Cup and the Ashes handsomely and Langer believed that would be more than enough to retain his job moving forward.

But Cummins and Finch failed to endorse Langer publicly when repeatedly asked in the media if they would like him to continue as head coach long-term. Both captains were consulted by Hockley and Oliver about Langer’s position privately. That feedback was presented to the board and Langer has subsequently resigned following discussions with Hockley and the board on Friday night.