Justin Langer has thanked his supporters in a LinkedIn post after resigning as coach of the Australian men’s cricket team on the weekend.
After much speculation about his future amid reports of a rift with players, Langer stepped down despite having five months left to run on his four-year contract.
Cricket Australia offered Langer a six-month extension — that would have seen him remain in charge for the T20 World Cup at the end of 2022 — but was told there would be no option to stay on beyond that.
Langer declined the extension and instead decided to walk away immediately. He has headed back to Perth, where he will complete two weeks in quarantine before spending time with his family, who he hasn’t seen in months.
“Thank you for everyone’s well wishers (sic) I have been overwhelmed by the support. Now to start the next chapter of my life, wherever that may take me,” Langer wrote in a LinkedIn post on Sunday night that included the full resignation letter he sent to CA.
“Rather than reply to all, please see my statement that went public today. Thanks again. JL.
“For now, I have another two weeks in quarantine in Perth before I can re-unite with my family. In that time, I will reflect on the past and work out what the next chapter of my life may look like.”
Australian cricket greats including Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden have slammed the way Langer has been treated by CA, while Mitchell Johnson took aim at new Test captain Pat Cummins and accused him of being “gutless”.
Cummins repeatedly refused to weigh in on whether he wanted Langer to continue as coach, ducking questions and choosing not to publicly endorse the 51-year-old.
On Sunday The Australian revealed Langer’s resignation letter to CA, in which he apologised if he “came across as too intense at times”.
One of the main criticism of Langer from within the dressing room concerned his mood swings and volatility.
CA chief executive Nick Hockley said he was disappointed Langer chose not to accept a six-month contract extension as he suggested the time was right for a period of transition, which is why the former coach wasn’t offered a longer deal despite winning the T20 World Cup and Ashes in recent months.
