Pat Cummins denies Justin Langer’s ‘cowards’ comment in Australia team | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: With Australia set to take on West Indies in a home Test series, captain Pat Cummins denied that the players had been distracted by former head coach Justin Langer’s inflammatory comments adding there are “no cowards” in the Australia cricket team.
Langer had lashed out at unnamed “cowards” in the team who complained in the media about his intense coaching style last year in a podcast interview released last week reopening old wounds over his acrimonious resignation.

Talking to reporters ahead of the two-Test series which begins in Perth on Wednesday, Cummins said, “There’s no cowards in an Australian cricket team, not ever.”
“I think it’s disappointing sometimes the focus gets drawn to off-field issues but it hasn’t really affected our team. I think there’s no ill will to what he was trying to do and he clarified (his comments) afterwards.
“I think he had a think about it and clarified it, so thank him for that. But we’re really proud of the last 12 months, how we’ve fronted up, the way we’ve played, the way we’ve conducted ourselves. Players can certainly hold their heads high.”
Langer is set to be part of the Seven Network’s commentary team and Cummins said it would be good to see the former coach again during the Test.
Cummins also named the line-up to face West Indies, with Cameron Green was picked to play his first Test in his home city of Perth while Scott Boland and Marcus Harris set to miss out.
“You could probably have picked the side 12 months ago, I feel like we are in a good spot,” Cummins said.
(With inputs from agencies)