Adam Gilchrist has launched a strong defence of Australian cricket coach Justin Langer amid reports of player discontent over his management style.
A report in the Sydney Morning Herald understands that Langer needs to change his coaching style after receiving “strong and straightforward” feedback from players and support staff in an end-of-season review.
Players reportedly want to take a greater control of the dressing room with Langer entering the final year of his contract.
Gilchrist questioned the credibility of the report and sounded a warning to Cricket Australia and its players, while praising Langer’s work in rebuilding Australian cricket.
“My discussions with the playing group over the period … there’s not a great deal in it. There’s been some differing of opinions on certain things and that’s to be expected,” he told SEN’s Whateley.
“I’ll defend Justin Langer really strongly because he’s one of my closest friends, but I try to step back and look at it from a distance.
“He’s forever evolving as a person and as a coach and he’s very aware of that and acknowledges that, but I feel we’ve got to be very careful as we pursue this line of thought in the public space.
“It’s never strong quotes from anyone it’s always, ‘I heard this, or someone told me that’. There’s no real foundation of strong evidence to any of this and it’s all coming from confidential reports, which raises question marks over Cricket Australia and whether they are keeping their information confidential and how it’s getting out.
“Be careful what we wish for. Justin Langer came in three years ago when the Australian cricket team - many of the players are still playing - had led it into one of the lowest points in cricket history. The administrators were seen through an investigation to be termed as arrogant and bullying in the professional corporate space."
Stay up to date with all the latest news from SEN. Sign up HERE.
Gilchrist offered some advice to any Australian player who might be unhappy or concerned with Langer's style of coaching.
“We’ve got to be careful what we wish for. Justin came in and played a huge part in conjunction with others in turning that around and building a stronger culture and a stronger direction and behaviours of that team," Gilchrist said.
“I think they need to be careful that they don’t just wash that away and say, ‘He was grumpy because we lost to India’. If they’ve got an issue with Justin, my advice is go to Justin and talk openly and honestly about it, nowhere else.”