Langer evolved but the writing was on the wall

 

It was the kind of chat that exuded a very vivid sense even then, some three-and-a-half months ago, that Langer's fate had already been sealed. That whatever the Australian team was to achieve during the remainder of his coaching reign wasn't going to change the jury's mind. That his time would be up once the Ashes were done. This was after all well before Glenn Maxwell reverse-swept Australia to T20 WC glory for the first-ever time in Dubai and long before Pat Cummins cleaned up Ollie Robinson to seal the Ashes series 4-0 in Hobart.

How inevitably right those well-informed stakeholders had been at Drummoyne that spring evening. It did end up as Cricket Australia's problem. And they did have to deal with it. We'll never know of course if it would have been easier for Australian cricket to part ways with Langer in case Aaron Finch & Co hadn't won gold in the UAE or if Cummins & Co hadn't had it so easy against England at home. The writing was on the wall regardless.

Over the course of many meetings, and especially a lengthy one on Friday (February 4), CA does seem to have found a way. A six-month extension at the end of a four-year run that finished on a high was never going to work. Not for a man as understandably proud as Langer. Not for a head coach who'd just reached the summit of his professional career. It was simply the insult that accompanied the injury.

On Saturday (February 5), a few hours following Langer's resignation, Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley spoke to the media explaining the cricket board's stance. He spoke repeatedly about the "evolution" of the Australian team's "needs and requirements" and how they were ready to start a "period of transition". There was a tinge of irony to what Hockley said, at least for some who've seen Langer's tenure from up-close within the Australian dressing-room during the four years it lasted.

For, they believe the former Test opener had over the last few months finally evolved and transitioned into exactly the kind of coach many of the senior members of the current team were looking for. That he'd found the perfect balance between being passionate and intense and having the ability to be more hands-off and a bit more relaxed, while also maintaining that balance with his players.

As we know now, it was perhaps a bit too late for both Langer and his team. In the aftermath of the many meetings held in August about the complaints over his coaching style, Langer had decided to embark on the next stage of his evolution as a coach. To try and be closer to the kind of head coach that the leadership group among the players wanted him to be.