Justin Langer resigns as Australia head coach with immediate effect

After months of speculation, Justin Langer has resigned as Australia's head coach, his management firm made the announcement on Twitter.

Langer, who has been in charge of the team since 2018, will as a result not tour with the team to Pakistan, with Andrew McDonald likely to take charge. He was set to take a break and as a result, miss the T20I series at home against Sri Lanka.

DSEG confirms that our
client Justin Langer has this morning tendered his resignation as coach of the Australian mens cricket team.
The resignation follows a meeting with Cricket Australia last evening. The resignation is effective immediately.

— DSEG (@DSEGWorldwide) February 5, 2022

Langer's stint as coach was due to end after the Pakistan tour.

Langer's manager James Henderson further said, "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."

Langer had been involved with plenty of lengthy discussions with Cricket Australia (CA), however, by the looks of it, both parties have not come to an agreement. Many reports have emerged in the recent past stating players' unhappiness over the way Langer manages the side, with Pat Cummins recently refusing to add to the speculation.

Langer was offered a short-term extension to his contract, which would have given him the opportunity to defend the T20 World Cup title at home, according to a statement from CA. The former Australia opener however refused.

"Cricket Australia has accepted men’s team head coach Justin Langer’s resignation, which was received today," a CA statement read.

"Justin was offered a short-term extension to his current contract, which sadly he has opted not to accept.

"CA would like to thank Justin for his outstanding leadership since he became Australian men’s team coach in 2018 and for guiding the team to the T20 World Cup title last year and the 4-0 Ashes victory.

"Justin is not only a legend of the game but an outstanding individual.

"The contract extension offered to Justin was the result of a thorough review process that evaluated many factors including future requirements of the team and the upcoming extensive schedule of fixtures.

"The extension was approved by the CA Board and was put to Justin last night. It included the opportunity to defend the T20 World Cup title in Australia at the end of this year.

"Justin informed CA this morning he was not accepting the offer and would resign with immediate effect."

Langer took charge of the side after the controversial sandpaper-gate episode in South Africa, which saw the then captain Steven Smith, his deputy David Warner and opening batter Cameron Bancroft receive length bans for their involvement in planning and executing tampering with the ball during the Cape Town Test against South Africa

Since then, Australia retained the Ashes in England, thrashed them at home recently and also clinched their maiden T20 World Cup last November in the UAE.