Australian legend Shane Warne has teed off at Australia's playing group over their treatment of Justin Langer.
It has been widely reported that Langer's removal as coach came as a result of the certain players and members of support not being happy with him continuing as coach.
It was something Langer hinted at in his resignation letter - something he was more or less forced into doing following Cricket Australia's offer of a short-term contract which would have taken Langer only to the end of the upcoming T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia at the back-end of 2022.
"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 CEO, Nick Hockley, are also keen to see the team move in another direction. I respect that decision," one part of Langer's letter read.
Speaking on the Follow-On podcast, Warne said even though half the team didn't like former coach John Buchanan, they never spoke to the board and respected the coach who was able to generate results.
“Something is not quite right there,” Warne said.
“We never spoke to the ACB (Australian Cricket Board). We respected the position. We respected the person. We might not have liked him and asked him out for dinner, but we respected the position and treated him accordingly.
“(Former Australia coaches) Geoff Marsh, Bob Simpson. A lot of guys didn't like those guys. But they respected the position and the person.
“What's better, to be respected or liked? Respected every day of the week.”
Warne said it was all about results, which Langer was able to achieve, with the decision leaving him "staggered."
“They didn't like his style, well, they better start performing,” Warne said.
“I'm absolutely staggered because if the players don't like it, that's fine. It's all about results and if Australian men's cricket is in better shape now. And yes it is. So I was staggered Justin Langer was only offered six months.”
