Australia head coach might be feeling betrayed by his players in a week where talks of the two parties’ controversial fallout have resurfaced again, thinks out-of-favour left-hand batsman Usman Khawaja.
“How do you think JL feels? He probably feels like the guys in the team are stabbing him in the back and that’s what it looks like and that’s why it’s so disappointing. It’s actually a really bad look. This is something the group needs to sort out ASAP.”
“It’s not always the coaches. The guys aren’t performing, the players need to take ownership at some stage. It’s not one person so there needs to be some sort of perspective put around this,”.
Khawaja said on his YouTube channel.
The reports of fallout doing the rounds seem genuine as Cricket Australia had to hold emergency talks between senior executives and players to overcome the whole Langer controversy and focus on preparing a roadmap that helps them to win the T20 World Cup and the Ashes.
According to ESPNcricinfo, an agreement has been reached for everyone to work together at least until Langer’s contract expires next year.
“He [Langer] is a very passionate person. Loves Australian cricket, wants the best for everyone, wants to only succeed. He’s driven by winning, driven by winning the right way and all the things he brought after sandpapergate were focused on those things.”
“One thing that keeps coming up is his (Langer’s) emotions. Yes, the man wears his heart on his sleeve. He can be very emotional. It’s probably his one downside, his greatest weakness is his emotion. He rides the highs and rides the lows but it’s only because he is passionate.”
“Unfortunately, it’s probably the one thing that’s letting him down the most but it comes from a very good place. He knows it, he knows he needs to improve, he’s said it in the media, I’ve chatted to him.”
Khawaja added.
It might come as a surprise to some that Khawaja seems the most understanding and respectful of the Langer’s side of the view amid all the tension and rift within the team.
In the documentary, ‘The Test’, one of the main highlights or points of attention was the complicated relationship that the duo shared. Langer was seen having a go at Khawaja in one of the episodes, with the latter having mentioned how players felt intimidated in the former’s presence.
Khawaja hasn’t played for Australia since the 2019 Ashes and World Cup tour of the UK, but his exit has had nothing to do with Langer. Khawaja says he has built a stronger connection and relationship with the head coach since he last played for the national team.
Langer took over the side in the aftermath of the 2018 Cape Town ball-tampering incident. Since then, the side have won 11 and lost 7 of their 22 Tests. Apart from that, they have won 25 and lost 22 of their 47 ODIs and won 20 but lost 24 of their 46 T20Is. The Aussies retained the Ashes in the UK but have suffered two home series losses to India on either side of that.
