Australian Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins has sought to put an end to the growing rift within the nation's cricketing family, reportedly meeting with an aggrieved group of former players.
Since former head coach Justin Langer's acrimonious departure from the role in February, an array of the Western Australian's former teammates have gone in to bat for him, including the ilk of Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and the late Shane Warne.
Initially, these members of Australia's dominant golden generation aired grievances surrounding the length of Langer's proposed contract renewal, stressing that a six-month extension was insufficient.
However, after Cummins and his brigade of contemporary stars were said to have played a leading hand in ousting the blinkered Langer for the new-age styles of Andrew McDonald, this same collective have turned their ire to those currently wearing baggy greens.
As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, Cummins is said to have extended an olive branch to his predecessors by way of a meeting in an effort to heal and progress.
Cummins is said to have stressed that the negative "agenda" that has been set by past champions is having an unwanted effect on those within McDonald's dressing rooms.
Said meeting is said to have taken place after Australia's agonising exit from the T20 World Cup, bowing out during the Super 12 stages despite the tournament being played solely on home soil.
Although under no obligation to, Cummins is expected to keep up modes of communication with these custodians of the past across the course of the home summer.
Cummins and the Australians will take the field again on Saturday afternoon when they face England in the second of three ODIs at the SCG.
The vaunted New South Welshman will also lead his nation into successive red-ball series against the West Indies and South Africa between November and January.
