Dressing room tension revealed as pressure mounts on Justin Langer

OPINION

Nobody puts Baby in a corner – not so Justin Langer.

The Australian coach spent a fair bit of the Ashes series at a distance from his players in an uncomfortable truce aimed at getting both parties through the summer.

Assistants Andrew McDonald and Michael Di Venuto did much of the heavy lifting and their chilled approach is much loved and welcomed compared to Langer's angry ant, micro-management style.

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While Langer has been known to send out directions mid-over, McDonald and Di Venuto are more hands-off and know when their input is required and, more importantly, when to butt out.

That the players no longer want Langer as their boss is obvious, but they had to find a way through the Ashes before they officially part.

It was like the soon-to-be ex-husband living under the family roof while he looks for a two-bed apartment nearby.

A short-term working relationship with an end in sight.

The only problem is, Langer doesn’t want to leave.

He believes he has done enough to win a new contract and his acolytes have been lining up to push the cause, pointing to the Ashes success on top of the T20 World Cup victory.

Just like his playing days as a doughty opening batsman, Langer is prepared to see off the new ball and carry his bat to the bitter end if that's what it takes.

He seems unable or unwilling to read the room.

The players want him gone and Cricket Australia want him gone.

Justin Langer reportedly asked to reapply for job

Who do you think leaked the story about Langer blowing-up at a meeting to discuss his future when it was suggested he would have to reapply for his position?

Langer, Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley and head of high-performance Ben Oliver were the only three men privy to that conversation.

Take your pick.

As one insider with close ties to the Australian set-up told Yahoo Sport Australia: "By asking him to reapply they are forcing him to resign without forcing him to resign.

"He had the chance to go with his head held high but is now trying to hang on to a sinking ship."

What Langer and his supporters have failed to fully grasp is the players now hold the upper hand.

The football-style rev-ups and in-your-face probes don't wash in the modern era, especially when Covid has forced teams to live shoulder-to-shoulder in claustrophobic bubbles.

Not one player has come out to endorse Langer and back his retention – not even Cummins, the world's nicest cricketer.

It got to the stage where conversations between coach and players are rare and Cummins, along with white ball skipper Aaron Finch, have taken it upon themselves to act as conduits while lifting morale.

The insider said: "They're such a harmonious group now that he (Langer) has been pushed to the side."

It's not going to end well for Langer, that much is clear.

He either can’t see that or doesn’t want to.

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