Justin Langer's vow to 'never apologise' over scandal
Former Australian cricket coach Justin Langer has vowed to stand by his coaching style, saying he will 'never, ever apologise' for being candid with players.
Langer has been upfront with his frustrations with Cricket Australia and his confusion as to why he was fighting for his job on the back of a successful Ashes campaign.
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The 51-year-old quit in February after being offered an insulting six-month contract extension despite guiding the team to T20 World Cup and Ashes glory.
He struck a markedly different tone this week when interviewed by West Australian Governor Kim Beazley about his attitude towards the game, after saying in his resignation letter that he was apologetic if he had 'came across as too intense'.
He told Beazley this week that his style had been born from the serious and frank styles of the successful captains of his generation - Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting among them.
“It’s really ironic, well not ironic, but it’s the way of the world I guess,” Langer said.
“On finishing with the Australian team, there was talk that I was too serious or too intense for the younger players. But that’s what I learned.”
A rumoured breakdown in the relationship between Langer and a core of senior players led to CA's move to push the 51-year-old towards the exit.
A host of Australia's greatest Test players, including Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Ponting, Waugh, Matthew Hayden and the late Shane Warne, lambasted CA for the way it treated Langer.
Langer said he felt the lack of support he recieved from Cricket Australia toll a toll on his physical and mental health in scathing comments made to a Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA event in Perth.
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The anger Langer felt about his treatment from CA was still evident on Wednesday when he recalled the conversation he had with Freudenstein the day after he quit as Australia coach.
"The first thing he said to me was, 'It must make you feel so good that all your mates are supporting you in the media,'" Langer told a Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA event in Perth.
"I said, 'Yeah it is, acting chairman, but with all due respect, those mates are also the all-time greats of Australian cricket. They are the fabric of Australian cricket.
"They are Australian cricket. They also work all around the world in cricket. So yeah, I'm glad my mates are looking after me. Imagine if you had have.
"Ironically, the last six months of my coaching career were the most enjoyable period of 12 years of coaching.
"Not only did we win everything, but I had energy, and I had focus, and I was happy - besides the bulls*** politics."
Australia have since appointed Andrew McDonald as Langer's replacement.
After resigning, Langer's name was immediately linked to the England coaching position.
Langer, whose pride and passion for Australia is renowned, made it crystal clear he never considered the role.
"I've never spoken to English cricket," Langer said.
"The thought of coaching England (shakes his head fervently) ... mate!"
With AAP
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