Ending his silence on Justin Langer’s solid analysis of the Australian team, Test skipper Pat Cummins has shielded his side saying there are ‘no cowards’ in the dressing room while Cummins expressed that there was no bad blood between the two.
Ending his silence on Justin Langer’s solid analysis of the Australian team, Test skipper Pat Cummins has shielded his side saying there are ‘no cowards’ in the dressing room.
Former coach Langer had made explosive remarks in a podcast interview, attacking the “cowards” who were not transparent about the criticism paving the way to his messy exit recently despite a successful Ashes campaign and the 2021 T20 World Cup victory.
As such, the build-up to the Test series opener between Australia and West Indies in Perth has been hijacked by Langer’s lashing which Cummins said was ‘disappointing’ to be given so much focus instead of the actual cricket.
“There are no cowards in Australian cricket, not ever,”
Cummins told reporters on the eve of the first Test.
“I’d probably never disclose private conversations. I think it’s disappointing sometimes the focus gets drawn to off-field issues but it hasn’t affected our team.”
On his part, Langer did later attempt to clarify his remarks and said that the current players were like “younger brothers” to him.
“I think there’s no ill will to what he was trying to do and he clarified afterward,”
Cummins said at Optus Stadium.
“I think he had a think about it and clarified it, so thank him for that. But we’re proud of the last 12 months, how we’ve fronted up, the way we’ve played, the way we’ve conducted ourselves. Players can certainly hold their heads high.”
Cummins expressed that there was no bad blood between the two and said he was “looking forward” to seeing Langer, a nearby legend in Perth, around for the match.
“He’ll be in and around here commentating so it’ll be good,”
Cummins said.
“We love playing here at the stadium. My idol mentor, DK Lillee as well, it’s his home state.
“We haven’t felt that at all,”
he added when asked if the Australian team was out of favor in Western Australia.
“I know there’s been some conjecture but I think it camouflages over a lot of the good stuff that’s been going on and support we’ve been receiving.”
However, Cummins announced the playing XI for the first Test against West Indies. Of the 13-man squad, pacer Scott Boland and opener Marcus Harris have been left out while all-rounder Cameron Green is set to play his first Test at home.
“To be honest it is the most stable team I have played in ever,”
Cummins said.
“You could probably have picked the side 12 months ago, I feel like we are in a good spot.”