Aussie cricket legend Mark Taylor slams ex-coach Justin Langer for reigniting bitter feud

Former Australian Test cricket captain Mark Taylor has fought back at Justin Langer for reigniting a bitter clash between current players and the axed coach – recommending that he thinks about the team before labelling people ‘cowards’.

Last week Langer slammed the ‘cowards’ of Cricket Australia who advocated for his dismissal in spite of his success and reputation with the players.

‘A lot of journalists use the word “source”,’ Langer said in an explosive BackChat podcast episode on Wednesday.

Mark Taylor has urged Justin Langer to think more about Australian cricket 

‘I would say, change that word to “coward”. […] They’ve either got an axe to grind with someone and they won’t come and say it to your face, or they’re just leaking stuff for their own agenda. I hate that.’

Taylor addressed the comments on Nine’s Sports Sunday, saying his former teammate wasn’t afraid of being confrontational. 

‘Probably a little bit [damaging his reputation],’ Taylor said. 

‘Justin’s a combative guy. He’s a fighter, was as a cricketer, was as a coach. It is his personality. If he’s got a cross to bear or got a bug, he wants the people to know, so he comes out with it. 

‘The only thing I would say about […] To Justin or players or administrators in general, I would like to see everyone just think a little bit more about Australian cricket.

‘Let’s have a bit more positivity around Australian cricket, a little less thought about individual brands and a bit more about the team brand or the nation brand.’

Taylor and Langer (first and second left) were teammates in one of the great Aussie teams

The former Australia coach hit out at some of the players this week, calling them ‘cowards’

Langer coached Australia to T20 World Cup and Ashes glory last year, before resigning

Langer’s claims were strongly refuted by Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley, who bluntly spoke of his ‘disappointment’ at the comments. 

‘We have not commented to date other than to correct inaccuracies, of which there are a number in Justin’s comments,’ said Hockley. 

Langer coached Australia to T20 World Cup glory last year and to a 4-0 drubbing of England in the Ashes, only to resign less than a month after Australia had retained the urn. 

The former Australian opener left his role in February after he was not offered the long-term deal he wanted, with Cricket Australia offering him a six-month extension to keep in charge only until the end of the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Langer’s acrimonious exit sparked rumours of a rift between the coach and several players, including Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins (above)

But the former Aussie coach insisted he had no issues with the fast bowler  

His acrimonious exit sparked rumours of a rift between the coach and several players, including Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins. 

Langer, however, insisted he didn’t have any issues with the fast bowler and received the backing of Mitchell Starc. 

‘We exchanged a few text messages post-World Cup, so as far as I’m concerned I’m pretty comfortable with how my relationship is with JL,’ the Aussie quick said on Saturday. 

Glenn McGrath told Daily Mail Australia Langer was right to feel aggrieved 

‘I wouldn’t call us [cowards].’

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia earlier this week, Australian cricket legend Glenn McGrath believes Langer was correct to be aggrieved by the handling of his departure.

‘I guess he wishes he had more honest feedback [from the players],’ he said.

‘That’s who he is, he wants people to be upfront with him as he is upfront with them. […] He’s obviously disappointed and rightly so with the way everything has been handled.’