Usman Khawaja's startling admission about Justin Langer resignation

Test batsman Usman Khawaja has called on Australian captain Pat Cummins to publicly explain more about the circumstances of Justin Langer's resignation as head coach.

Langer stepped down on Saturday after months of speculation about his allegedly acrimonious relationship with players, having been offered only a six-month extension of his Cricket Australia contract, which was due to expire in July.

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His decision sparked an angry response to the saga from a range of retired Australian cricketers, many of whom were scathing of Cricket Australia and highly critical of the players' role in Langer's resignation.

A search for a new coach is now underway, with Andrew McDonald stepping into the role on an interim basis.

Khawaja, who made a stunning return to the Test team during the Ashes, says he wasn't really involved in conversations with players about Langer's future.

He said he wants more information about what the supposed problems were with Langer, calling on Cummins to face the media.

“I didn’t really know what was going on. I wasn’t part of the process. I just came back into the team a few months ago,” he said.

“I’ve been a little bit out of it.”

Khawaja, who scored back to back hundreds in Australia's fourth Test victory over England, said it would be important for either Cummins or ODI captain Aaron Finch to address concerns raised by former players.

“There’s obviously a lot of ex-players talking about the playing group,” Khawaja said.

“I think at some stage, one of the captains, ‘Finchy’ or Patty, will probably have to stand up and answer some questions just to get rid of all the speculation that’s going around and to just put an end to it all.”

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The 35-year-old said he felt for Langer in the wake of his resignation, saying the former coach had a clear impact on the Australian side in the wake of the 2018 ball tampering scandal.

Though he described Langer as a 'legend', Khawaja said he was also concerned by some of the criticism directed at Cummins since the weekend.

“But people, not only ‘JL’ but a lot of the older players, just like us, are very passionate about the game,” he said.

“They want to see the best out of the game. It all comes from a really good spot.

“I understand that everyone‘s got their opinions but I also know that everyone just cares about the game.

“It’s not coming from a very vindictive (place), or there are no agendas ... at some stage there’ll be hard questions asked to CA and to the senior group, and I’m sure they’ll come out and be open and honest and give all the reasons they need to.”

Langer's no-nonsense style ultimately ended up clashing with players, but Khawaja said the impact Langer had in the months after the sandpaper scandal was plain to see.

He said he and Langer had a strong relationship, even as he was shuffled in and out of the Test lineup.

“I feel for the man himself because I’ve got along with Justin for a long time,” Khawaja said.

“I love him as a bloke, he’s a legend, and on a personal level, whether I got dropped or whether he’s not the Australian coach, we both have that relationship.

“He brought humility back to the Australian team … I know what we played like before he was coach and I know what we played like when he was coach.”

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