Ricky Ponting has slammed Cricket Australia over the treatment meted out to Justin Langer, labelling it as “embarrassing”.
Just moments after it was revealed Langer had resigned from his post and would not coach Australia again, Ponting came out in support of his ex-teammate.
In a telling radio interview, Ponting claimed it was clear Langer had been pushed by Cricket Australia given he wanted to continue on in the role.
“It’s been a really poor six months with the way Cricket Australia have handled some of the better people in Australian cricket,” Ponting told ABC.
“Those being Justin Langer and Tim Paine (at the start of the summer).
“I think it’s been almost embarrassing the way they handled those two cases.”
Ponting admitted he was disappointed Pat Cummins had not publicly backed the coach, but said he understood the captain was in a difficult situation.
Ponting claimed it was “a very small group” of players and other support staff that had grown tired of Langer’s intense style, prompting his exit after a 4-0 Ashes win and maiden Twenty20 World Cup victory.
“That’s been enough to force a man that has put his life and heart and soul into Australian cricket,” Ponting said.
“And (someone who has) done a sensational job of turning around the culture and the way the Australian cricket team has been looked at over the past three or four years.
“I actually think it’s a really sad day as far as Australian cricket is concerned.”
Ponting’s comments come after former coach John Buchanan blasted CA’s treatment of Langer on Friday night, after a seven-hour board meeting ended with them wanting to talk with him further.
“I just think Cricket Australia have really hung Justin out to dry, and whether they are going to reappoint him or not going to reappoint him, it’s just become a real saga and I really don’t understand why it has to be,” Buchanan told 4BC radio.
“When he came in he was asked to do two things and that was to fix the culture of the team, make the Australian cricket team a likeable team again.
“Play hard, play fair and win some games.
“It just seems to be a drama that didn’t need to occur.
“It’s a very difficult job but one that he has demonstrated over four years or so that he has coped with very well.”
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