Last Updated on 5 years ago by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: Matthew Hayden rips into CA & Justin Langer critics | Matthew Hayden launches attack on Cricket Australia & Langer critics
Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has launched a passionate defence of his best friend and former opening partner Justin Langer.
Langer, who is under pressure according to reports due to a string of poor results this year, received a vote of confidence this week by Cricket Australia (CA) CEO Nick Hockley. Hockley stood firm, pointing to Langer’s efforts ‘in raising the culture, values and behaviours’ of the Australian cricket team since he took the job in difficult circumstances back in 2018.
However, Hayden took aim at CA claiming they are focusing too much on Langer rather than the performances of the players. Speaking to SEN’s The Sporting Capital, Hayden said, “CEO of Cricket Australia carefully listen to the fact that (Langer) has got character personified. He is a man that has to leave his wife and four beautiful kids and go off to work and listen to some of the rubbish that’s getting spoken.”
“Even this facetious discussion among senior players just last night; about them deciding Justin Langer’s future. What about meeting about the fact you’re No.3 in Test cricket and No.3 in ODI rankings, and No.6 in T20 rankings?“
“Waste more energy and time thinking about that, than discussing a bloke who’s a legend of the game and so passionate about Australian cricket and culture. He’s worth listening to and I’m very disappointed.“
Matthew Hayden defends Langer, calls out critics and writer Malcolm Conn
Hayden, in his defence of Langer, pointed to how the Australian coach helped turn the culture around after the ball tampering scandal in Cape Town.
“Our break in the cycle was when our national team was caught and shamed, and in came Langer who now, with a very long memory to that occasion, has turned that culture around,” said Hayden.
“The game’s come a long way since Langer took over because he has reinvigorated that sense of playing for the baggy green.”
Hayden took particular offence to an article written in The Sydney Morning Herald by cricket writer Malcolm Conn. In the article, Conn wrote of his experience working with Justin Langer as the Australia men’s media team manager in 2019. He recalls the difficulty of working with the Australian coach, and how Langer can make a big fuss of even the smallest issues.
In the article, it is written, “players are being worn down by the volatile, high-stress environment he inhabits as coach, and his folksy, clichéd motivational homilies.”
“As one player told the Herald and The Age: ‘It becomes draining and affects everything.'”
Hayden labelled this as disrespectful and frustrating.
“It’s really frustrating me this – one of the guys in particular that I’m very disappointed with is (cricket writer) Malcolm Conn,” said Hayden.
“From the inner sanctum of the dressing room, he shot holes in Langer’s character in his article two days ago. That was when he was employed by Cricket Australia, and from the inner sanctum. This is a bloke that sang the team song.
“If he is listening out there, Malcolm and I have punched on over the years and we’ve had a fantastic working relationship – but I have to say that this ‘loose lips sinks ships’ kind of mentality is really frustrating.
“A lot of the content coming out about this is downright disrespectful to a bloke that’s played over 100 Test matches.”
Can’t judge Langer with key stars out – Hayden
Australia were embarrassed across 10 T20Is in West Indies and Bangladesh. The latest performance was a 62 all-out horror show – Australia’s lowest-ever score in T20Is.
However, Hayden questioned the culture at the top as to how Australia isn’t building more depth. Also, he pointed to how seven of Australia’s 15-man World Cup squad weren’t even available on those tours, which makes judging Langer on these results quite harsh.
“I beg the same question to our current CEO who is now from the ivory tower making claims about how the IPL is going to be fantastic preparation for the T20 World Cup – which we are ranked sixth in the world, just above Bangladesh who hammered us. He has to be accountable to where he needs to be and where his players need to be,” said Hayden.
“When they choose the World Cup squad and seven of those players aren’t on the current tour, and we’re judging Justin Langer on the performance of the team. But if you haven’t got seven assets to your team, any organisation crumbles.
“In 2005, we didn’t have Glenn McGrath for The Ashes and we lost that series heavily.”
