Justin Langer has resigned as head coach of the Australian cricket team after a successful yet internally turbulent stint at the job.
Over the last six months, Australia won its first T20 World Cup and routed England 4-0 in the Ashes series, but the players are said to have grown increasingly frustrated with the 51-year-old's style of coaching.
“DSEG (Langer's management company) confirms that our client Justin Langer has this morning tendered his resignation as of the Australian men's cricket team,” read the statement. “The resignation follows a meeting with Cricket Australia last evening. The resignation is effective immediately.”
“Today, despite the views of a faceless few, he finishes his time as Australian cricket coach winning the T20 World Cup and the Ashes. Lest we forget what JL took over in 2018,” wrote Langer's manager James Henderson on Twitter.
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Langer took over the Australian side in 2018 close on the heels of the embarrassing 'Sandpaper-gate' scandal involving Steve Smith and David Warner that rocked the cricket world.
Though he turned around the fortunes and the public image of the team, Langer's strict management style and frequent outbursts did not go down well with the senior players in the squad.
Despite Cricket Australia trying to intervene, the environment in the dressing room has been reportedly tense.
Langer's contract was due to expire in June, but after lengthy discussions with the board, he has chosen to step down ahead of the series against Sri Lanka that begins on February 11.
Two days ago, after details of a 'fiery' meeting between Langer and CA over his contract leaked to the press, former captain Michael Clarke slammed the board for not making a decision on Langer's future and for letting the situation spiral “out of control”.
Though many top former players backed Langer's retention, senior players of the squad including Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins are said to have requested for a change in coach.
Both captains of the team have not publicly endorsed Langer's contract extension when asked at press conferences.
Among the candidates likely to replace Langer are former cricketers Andrew McDonald and Ricky Ponting, and the vastly experienced Trevor Bayliss.
McDonald is most likely to be appointed on an interim basis for the tour of Pakistan that begins in March.