Australia have really had a good year. It is no surprise that they have already stormed their way into the WTC finals in 2023. It must be said that the batsmen led the way in all the wins. They posted high totals which paved the way for the bowlers to attack relentlessly. Not only winning in Australia is tough but winning against Australia is also tough. We have seen West Indies go down the slippery slope after their fall from grace. South Africa have experienced drastic fall as well after they were the best side in the world. However, Australia despite the retirement of all the great cricketers, have always remained competitive. In Australia, they are near invincible. This is Australia performance review of 2022.
At the end of the Ashes, Australia were jolted by the resignation of Justin Langer. He presided over the team during their difficult time but the overbearing nature of his coaching, left the team in a desperate need of a coach who can be friendly. Former cricketers, who had played with Langer were livid and they took their frustration with Cummins.
Langer in the middle of the storm
Langer was in the middle of the storm just a few months ago following his aggressive coaching stint over the last few years. Anyone who has watched the Amazon Prime show The Test, was clearly able to see the firm school principal type coaching methods of Langer. His overbearing attitude and his intolerance to a couple of failures were wide open for all to see. He did not tolerate dissent nor was he accommodative of the opinion of others.
Things really tumbled down after the series defeat to India in 2020. Langer, the support staff and the players had lot of discussion amongst themselves and from then on, Langer told the players that he will be less intense and open to suggestions which seemed to have brought the team together. They proved that with twin victories at the World Cup and The Ashes.
However, things have again gone into a tailspin since then. Langer wasn’t happy with a short term contract extension and that he wanted to be the coach for a very very long time. Now, Langer has resigned because the negotiation with Cricket Australia wasn’t a success. Langer did not wanted to continue for a short time and decided to leave.
Langer’s statement
“Last night I was offered a short-term contract until the end of the T20 World Cup in Australia, with the sentiment of ‘going out on a high’. After careful consideration I have decided not to accept this contract renewal, and as a result I believe it is in everyone’s best interests for the Australian cricket team to begin the next chapter immediately.
“If media reports are correct, several senior players and a couple of support staff don’t support me moving forward, and it is now apparent the CA board, and you Nick, are also keen to see the team move in another direction. I respect that decision.”
My inference
Langer himself says that several seniors is against him. If most of the team members did not want Langer to continue, it essentially means that he has lost the dressing room. I am sure these tensions were simmering below the surface but the players had to bide their time because of the lack of positive result. The World T20 and The Ashes gave them that cushion and now the tensions have come out into the open.
This is not new. Langer knew about player resentment more than 10 months ago. He must have left at that point. Nevertheless, negotiations were held and Langer and the players continued till the Ashes. With the Ashes won, Langer must have immediately tendered his resignation. He must have left on a high which he didn’t. He choose to wash dirty linen in public.
What is even more damaging is the reaction of the former players. Most of them have played with Langer and that shows in their reaction.
Australia marched on
After the thumping of England towards the beginning of the year, they had a tougher task of a tour of Asia. This was the much challenging for Australia than compared to England. In Pakistan, they fought toe-to-toe and just when Pakistan slacked, they took the upperhand and ran away with the series. Australia followed up that with a drawn series in Sri Lanka. Both were creditable performances because Australia, ever since the retirement of the stalwarts, they found themselves to be uncompetitive in Asia with multiple losses in India and Sri Lanka. They have rectified that quite brilliantly. It paved the way for Australia to be considered as genuine contenders anywhere in the world.
The T20 World Cup
It wasn’t all beautiful and magnificent for Australia during the year. There was a disappointment along the way when they weren’t able to qualify for the knock-out round in the T20 World Cup. Australia has a longway to go to be considered a genuine T20 side. It was really a surprise that they won the World Cup in 2021.
Wrapping up Australian performance review for 2022
Australia at the Test level are a good side now. Ofcourse, what happens when Smith and / or Warner retires? In Marnus they have unearthed a Smith clone but the same Marnus found the going tough in Pakistan. The tour of India in which they are the favourites, considering the Indian team’s struggling batsmen, will show how far have they progressed.