Justin Langer in meltdown at Cricket Australia’s refusal to offer him a long-term deal as head coach

The future of Australian cricket is on a knife-edge with Justin Langer’s position as head coach in severe doubt.

According to reports in Australia, an ever-increasing divide between Langer and his players – in both red-ball and white-ball cricket – has developed with many unhappy at his ‘intense and inconsistent micro-management style’.

These fractions haven’t gone unnoticed by the Cricket Australia board who are reluctant to offer the 51-year-old a new long-term deal – his current contract expires in June – and are considering making him reapply for the position he has held since 2018.

Justin Langer’s time as Australia head coach could soon be over, according to reports

Langer reportedly had a meltdown after being told he may have to re-apply for his position

The Sydney Morning Herald and Fox Sports have both detailed these current events – stating that Langer has been left incensed by how he is being treated, especially in light of his recent successes.

Within the last three months, Australia have won an unlikely T20 World Cup and thumped England 4-0 on home soil in the Ashes – both under Langer’s tutelage.

However, those victories have done little to amend the reported mutiny with the Australian dressing room – an issue that dates back to August 2021.

Fox Sports state that Langer would reject a 12 to 14-month arrangement, which would take in three sub-continental tours, a home T20 World Cup, next summer’s Test opponents South Africa and the West Indies, plus the 2023 Ashes.

Both publications claim though that a meeting was held between Langer and Cricket Australia chiefs on Friday, an outcome that saw Langer burst into a meltdown when told of where CA stood on his current tenure.

It’s been noted by many Down Under that a plethora of senior players within both the red-ball and white-ball setups have failed to publicly endorse Langer to carry on in the role – further highlighting the reported mutiny.

The most telling voices to do so are Test captain Pat Cummins and one-day skipper Aaron Finch, who have praised his worked but haven’t backed an extension of it.

Following the mutiny in August, Langer was forced to take a lesser role within the Australian camp with assistant coaches Andrew McDonald and Michael Di Venuto running the team with input from the senior players.

And the Sydney Morning Herald adds that players fear that McDonald and Di Venuto would leave the setup if Langer is given a contract renewal – with the former two bringing a much calmer approach to proceedings.

Developments on the whole situation are set to gather pace with Australia set to tour Pakistan for the first time in 24 years in March. Langer wants his situation resolved well before then and could reportedly leave his post if it isn’t.