Pat Cummins is in complete disagreement with former teammate Mitchell Johnson after he labelled Australia’s Test captain “gutless” over his role in the Justin Langer saga.
In a scathing column in The West Australian, Johnson took aim at Cummins following Langer’s resignation as head coach of the Australian cricket team.
The 51-year-old quit his post after being offered a six-month contract by Cricket Australia despite winning the T20 World Cup and the Ashes in recent months.
“Pat Cummins has been lauded as some type of cricketing saint since his elevation to the top job this summer,” Johnson said last weekend.
“Cummins might have delivered with the ball during the Ashes series, but he has failed his first big test as captain pretty miserably.
“He had plenty of public opportunities to endorse an extension for Langer. So when he let it through to the keeper every time, it became pretty obvious he didn’t want it to happen.
“Cummins holds a lot of power and must have been central to what’s happened. He’s clearly had an agenda to get in a coach he wants.
“His recent interviews have been gutless by not respecting his coach when he could have been upfront from the start.”
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday afternoon, Cummins responded to Johnson’s strong comments.
“I can’t believe a fast bowler is having a go at me,” Cummins joked.
“He’s just standing up for his mates. I absolutely disagree with what he said.
“He hasn’t reached out, but that’s fine, he’s entitled to his opinion, he’s standing up for his mate.
“I can hold my head high, so I’m fine.”
Australia reclaimed the mantle as the world’s No.1 ranked Test team under Langer’s guidance.
Cummins released a lengthy statement about Langer’s exit before addressing the media on Wednesday.