Australia team ‘spoilt brats’ under Smith’s tenure: Langer
New coach Justin Langer says the Australian side were behaving like “spoilt brats” ahead of the Cape Town balltampering scandal and Steve Smith wasn’t a strong enough leader to handle the situation.
Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were all suspended for their roles in the incident when sandpaper was used to rough up the ball during the third Test in South Africa in March.
“The whispers were there,” Langer said of the team under former coach Darren Lehmann. “Once upon a time, the opposition didn’t like us because we played really good, hard cricket — we were very skilful and we won a lot of games.
“It’s easy to dislike the opposition if they’re good, but there have been too many whispers in the last 12 months or so about the abuse on the field, or dare I say, the side playing like spoilt brats.”
ENGLAND WIN 1ST ODI
Australia made a stuttering start to coach Justin Langer’s tenure as they lost by three wickets to England in the opening match of the one-day series at The Oval.
Only Glenn Maxwell impressed as Australia batted first, scoring 62 as the touring side lost regular wickets and were bowled out for a mediocre 214 in the 47th over.
England, humbled by Scotland on Sunday, made a meal of reaching the low target, however, and when top scorer Eoin Morgan (69), Jos Buttler and Joe Root (50) fell in the space of three overs the hosts were wobbling on 163 for six.
SYDNEY: LONDON: