Ashton Agar: The left-arm spinner has a long association with Langer and said the coach has “100 percent” backing.
Ashton Agar would be “absolutely shocked” if he were exposed to public criticism from Justin Langer.
Players’ discomfort with Langer and his approach sparked intense speculation about the future. Of the former test holder, who has a contract through mid-2022.
Langer’s posting of a motivational message on LinkedIn made headlines this week. But the issue peaked in August when Nick Hockley. CEO of Cricket Australia publicly endorsed Langer as a coach for the Twenty20 World Cup and Ashes.
Hockley, CA chairman Earl Eddings and on-field leaders Tim Paine, Aaron Finch. And Pat Cummins even met to discuss “the elephant in the room“.
Langer and Australia’s T20 World Cup team will meet later this week before their tournament against South Africa begins on October 23.
Agar, a long-time mentee of Langer at both domestic and international levels. Said he and his teammates know the head coach is listening to feedback and will do “whatever he can to suit the needs of the team”.
“You can’t help but respect that and we’ll back him in 100 percent. At this tournament and going forward,” Agar told reporters from the UAE. “He’s got strong values and morals as a person and he sticks to them, unwaveringly. Knowing him over 10 years, not a lot has changed.
“I respect him a lot for that. We just have to have a bit of understanding around how horrible that experience [in recent months] would have been and respect someone coming out of that and still doing their best.”
Langer said he felt like “Superman” earlier this year after responding to player comments. And trying to clear the air ahead of a T20 tour of the Caribbean.
But Australia, devoid of Cummins and several rested stars. Suffered one-sided losses in the T20 series against the West Indies and Bangladesh. With the heat most intense in Langer while trapped in an Adelaide hotel room for a fortnight.
“All the criticism and everything that he’s copped. To be dragged through the media while you’re in quarantine, all of these different things,” Agar said. “If that happened to you or me, we would be absolutely shattered. But speaking to him recently, he’s doing really well.”
In addition to Agar, voters also included Legspinners Adam Zampa and Mitchell Swepson on their World Cup squad.
Hagar is optimistic that the trio who played together in Bangladesh. Could be integrated into the same XI during the next tournament.
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