Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has expressed his disappointment in the departure of Australian coach Justin Langer, stating it "a really sad day as far as Australian cricket is concerned".
Langer was confirmed to have resigned from his duties with immediate effect on Saturday, with Cricket Australia having held a critical board meeting earlier this week that framed as a catalyst in Langer's decision.
It is understood that Langer was offered a contract extension from CA, however the 105-time Australian Test representative was believed to be insulted by what had been tabled.
Langer's management confirmed his departure via Twitter, lashing out at a "faceless few" within the industry.
"As a player Justin retired on top after a 5-0 Ashes whitewash," Langer's manager James Henderson tweeted.
"Today, despite the views of a faceless few, he finishes his time as Australian cricket coach winning the T20 World Cup and the Ashes. Lest we forget what JL took over in 2018."
As a player Justin retired on top after a 5-0 Ashes whitewash. Today, despite the views of a faceless few, he finishes his time as Australian cricket coach winning the T20 World Cup and the Ashes. Lest we forget what JL took over in 2018. https://t.co/YWhAWy0awZ
— James Henderson (@jahenderson63) February 5, 2022
Langer's resignation has sparked outrage toward Cricket Australia's handling of their men's senior coach, who took on the role following the infamous sandpaper gate four years ago.
Despite amassing a stellar record at the helm, Langer endured a difficult end to his predominantly successful tenure as coach.
“It is a really sad day as far as Australian cricket is concerned and if you look back it has been a really poor six months on the whole in the way that Cricket Australia has handled some of the better people in the Australian cricket — Justin Langer and Tim Paine — and I think it’s been almost embarrassing the way they have handled those two cases,” Ponting told ABC Radio.
“Me knowing Justin the way that I do, he was very keen to continue in the role, as he should have been after what’s been the best coaching period of his international career having just won the T20 World Cup and then the 4-0 result in the Ashes.
“It seems like a very strange time for a coach to be departing.
“Reading the tea leaves it sounds like a few — and as he says to me a small group in the playing group and a couple of other staff around the team — haven’t entirely loved the way he has gone about it.
“That’s been enough to force a man who has put his life and heart and soul into Australian cricket and done a sensational job at turning around the culture and the way the Australian team has been looked at in the last few years to push him out of the job.”
Ponting has been seen as a highly-desired replacement for Langer, however has placed his attention toward his work in the media.
Former England coach Trevor Bayliss and current Australia assistant Andrew McDonald join Ponting in being linked to the head coaching role.
Australia are set to host Sri Lanka as part of a white-ball series later this month before venturing to Pakistan in March for a three-format series abroad.
