Ricky Ponting has questioned why some players’ opinions are even considered when Cricket Australia weighs whether to renew coach Just Langer’s contract.
Langer led Australia to T20 World Cup and Ashes victories in the past three months, so CA has no choice but to sign him again.
The former captain took a “back seat” after senior players, including Pat Cummins and Aaron Finch, confronted him last year over his extreme management style and mood swings.
Cummins, the skipper of the Australian team, did not support Langer’s extension when asked about the future.
Ponting, however, cautioned against giving too many players too much influence over decisions.
Ponting told cricket.com.au he didn’t understand why he wasn’t offered another contract.
Cricket Australia has not given any assurances about his future with them over the past couple of weeks, so I understand there was a bit of noise made.
“It’s impossible for Justin not to go on. As an example, if Justin is not offered another contract after having the best coaching year of his life, that is similar to Travis Head not getting offered a contract after winning the Ashes in 2013.”
“(The input of) a couple of senior players would be enough. I don’t see why a fringe player (should get a say). I don’t understand why they’d even be asking a lot of the players to be honest.
“Pat fine, Finchy fine – the captains of the teams respectively, maybe a couple more of the senior guys – but that’s all. I don’t think it needs to go any further than that.”
After the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, Larsen replaced Darren Lehmann as the team’s captain and led them out of the darkest chapter in their history.
Langer’s tenure thus far has been significant and worth remembering by the CA board, according to Ponting.
Whether it’s players or Cricket Australia, they have to keep in mind that not all grass is greener, Ponting said.
“What they’ve been able to accomplish in the last four to five months has been pretty remarkable.”.
“Justin has been asked to make many changes to the way he coaches. This has been accomplished. Compared to before, he has taken an even bigger backseat in the last few months.”
“He has gotten the assistants much more involved, which is one of several changes the group apparently needed to make.”
His results have been as a result of doing everything that’s been asked of him. He should be able to get another two- or three-year contract if he wants to continue.”
