India scripted history by winning the test series against Australia by 1-0 lead conceding the four-match Test series to the tourist in their own backyard.
A report in the Sydney Morning Herald wrote, “Dressing-room sources say that over a gruelling summer, Langer’s management style wore thin with some players, who on top of having to live in a bubble for months on end say they have become drained by his intensity and mood swings,” the Sydney Morning Herald wrote.
“Some senior players are frustrated at the atmosphere in the team being brought down by the coach’s shifting emotions and what they see as too much micro-management. They say that has extended to bowlers being bombarded with statistics and instructions about where to bowl at lunch breaks including during the fourth and final Test against India at the Gabba,” the news report added.
Langer, responded to his critics, who slammed his coaching style and told Sydney Morning Herald, “If players just want someone to tickle their stomachs all the time, then I’m not doing my job. There are stresses to the job. It’s a big job,” he added.
“It’s actually the opposite of what happens,” Langer said. “I never talk about statistics to the bowlers, ever. I don’t go to any of the bowlers’ meetings. That’s what the bowlers’ coach is meant to be doing. I don’t do any of that. I never ever speak to any of the bowlers about any of that sort of stuff. And the learnings of the last few months are I should start looking at that more,” he concluded.
Langer took over Australian cricket in troubled times since being the head coach in all formats and also a member of the three-man selection panel. During his tenure, Australia have won the home Test series versus Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand whereas they also reached the semi-finals of the 2019 ODI World Cup in England and Wales.
However, the recent series loss has created more eyeballs as Ajinkya Rahane-led India were without a plethora of key players also didn’t have the services of their regular captain Virat Kohli following the first Test.