Of all the social media platforms in the world, you would expect LinkedIn to be the most drama-free. If you reside anywhere near the bubble of Australian cricket at the moment, you would know that is not true. Ahead of the T20 World Cup, Australian coach Justin Langer put out two cryptic posts that contained the lines: “A wise man once said: Don't give them a taste of your own medicine. If they lied, let their medicine be honesty... BE YOURSELF. YOU ARE UNIQUE and YOU ARE SPECIAL.”
Langer has been at the receiving end of some bitter criticism, including from some senior players, about his coaching style; some of the complaints were that he was “grumpy”, “intense” and “micro-manages” too much. Some of the players, reportedly, even went behind his back to talk to Cricket Australia officials. The murmurs had been there for a while, but the loss to India in the Gabba Test in January set tongues free. And Langer got a licking.
What was worse was the form Australia was taking into the T20 World Cup in the UAE. In the past one year, they have won only 10 of 14 T20Is, have lost 1-4 to both West Indies and Bangladesh, and have scored their lowest total in the format—62.
Compared to their show in the ODI format—Australia have won five World Cups—their record in the T20 World Cup has been suboptimal. They have never won the tournament and, before Thursday, had reached the final only once.
So, how did this Australian team reach the final to meet their neighbours New Zealand? Well, there was an IPL in between their last series and the World Cup, and some of the Australians, like Glenn Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood, had a decent second leg of the season.
Also, the team that lost in Bangladesh and the West Indies did not have the likes of Maxwell, David Warner, Pat Cummins and Steve Smith.
“We had a lot of great faith in the squad, a lot of great faith in the preparation we had,” said Langer in a recent news conference. “The tours to the West Indies and Bangladesh... was brilliant for the depth of our squad and for Australian cricket.”
What also has changed is apparently Langer’s approach. He had meetings with senior players and the two captains in late August, after the Bangladesh series, and said he “will become a better coach”.
“It’s been very chilled,” Australian batter Steve Smith told The Grade Cricketer podcast in the early days of the World Cup. “[Langer’s] taken a bit of a backseat and just let the guys go out and do their thing…. The other coaches have been able to come in and do what they wanted to do. It’s been enjoyable… and everyone is really clear in their roles.”
All-rounder Marcus Stoinis told the same podcast: “There’s a bit more sharing of the responsibility, I guess… the mood in the camp is really good, everyone is having a lot of fun. And we’ve probably gotten rid of a bit of the [earlier] structure.”
So, perhaps Langer’s flexibility, coupled with a relaxed atmosphere, has helped this Australian side. As did the toss, as is the narrative of this tournament. The team has won all the matches Aaron Finch has won the toss in. The other teams have had the same fortune.
Luck of the coin aside, a trophy for Australia would help deflect from the Langer debate for a bit, and could paper over some cracks in the country’s white-ball game. Former captain Ricky Ponting, for instance, has questioned the depth in Australian cricket at the moment and the possible lack of knowhow in unfamiliar conditions, like in Bangladesh.
At the moment, though, it is all about the final, and lifting another ICC title.
Langer is contracted till mid-2022, and he has been vocal about wanting an extension. While a dominant win in the upcoming Ashes could go a long way in Langer signing the dotted line again, a World Cup victory would only bolster his chances.
If not, there's always LinkedIn.