Australian Test captain Pat Cummins has broken his silence on the team’s head coaching position with Justin Langer’s contract set to expire in June.
Langer famously held talks with senior players following last summer’s home Test series loss to India, where he was delivered honest feedback from senior players that forced him to take on a more relaxed approach.
That coaching style shift has coincided with Australia’s recent T20 World Cup and Ashes successes, but a report in the UK last week suggested that Cricket Australia had earmarked former England coach Trevor Bayliss as their favourite to take over the role should Langer not be extended.
With rumours circling, Cummins was asked about the role following Day 2 of the fifth Ashes Test in Hobart.
Despite remaining tight lipped when asked a similar question earlier in the series, the number one ranked Test bowler now says the playing group “loves” Langer and that it would be nice for the team to have “clarity” about who’ll be in the position going forward.
“That’s above my pay grade. We’ll wait and see. It’d be nice to have clarity for everyone, but he’s been doing a fantastic job, we absolutely love JL,” said Cummins.
“He’s been really great through the World Cup and the Ashes.
“Honestly, it’s not been a talking point at all within the camp. The plan has always been to chat about it after the Ashes, so the powers that be I’m sure will chat at some stage, but he’s been fantastic for us and the boys love having him around.”
While Cummins desires clarity, Cricket Australia have previously said that they won’t hold talks for a new contract until the home summer concludes.
Australia begin Day 3 in Hobart at 3/37 in their second innings with a lead of 152 runs.