Former players have continued to take turns tearing strips off Cricket Australia and the current playing group, with Adam Gilchrist lashing the board for painting outgoing coach Justin Langer as a “monster”.
“I don’t care to listen to any more of the corporate speak about transition and analysis of the coaching position and all that needs analysis and requirements and evolution,” Gilchrist said on SEN.
“That’s just covering up that the players and certain support staff around that team have spoken and they no longer want Justin there.”
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Langer’s resignation was met with widespread condemnation from former teammates, with Gilchrist one of the latest to make his feelings known.
He also branded the resignation as a “pathetic day” for Australian cricket on his Twitter account.
“He’s been painted by some particular people as a monster, that is not Justin Langer,” Gilchrist said.
“He’ll be the first to admit he has his frailties, he has his areas of weakness, but gee, he’ll sit and look you in the eye and work it out with you.
“So, to be painted as a monster, what sort of affect would that have on you personally and what’s the flow-on effect to your family and the people that are nearest and dearest to you, particularly through a period of time when you’re not nearly understanding what is going on, the consistent innuendo and rumour.
“I think it’s quite reckless and some of the decision making over a long period of time has been fuelled by greed and it really leaves me staggered.
“I think he stated it perfectly in his resignation letter, honesty, respect, trust, truth performance.”
Langer’s letter, which was published on LinkedIn, also touched on the reports of unrest among the playing group.
Test captain Pat Cummins was given the chance on a host of occasions to endorse Langer publicly, but he opted against doing so every time.
Former skipper Michael Clarke said that Cummins needed to break his silence on the situation.
“The Australian public aren’t stupid and this is my point with Pat Cummins,” Clarke said on Sky Sports Radio’s The Big Sports Breakfast.
“His reputation is squeaky-clean. Right now it has taken a hit, until he stands there and voices his opinion. Look what Mitchell Johnson said about Pat Cummins. A teammate, a friend of his has smoked him.
“My advice to Patty is he has got to stand there. He needs to tell the fans where he sits on this because everyone thinks it is Patty who made the decision. That accountability sits with him.
“He is trying to honour both parties and has done it very well. He is trying to look after Cricket Australia. I don’t like seeing Pat get smacked for this because I think he is in a lose-lose situation. He sits right in the middle.”
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