Ian Healy has praised Test captain Pat Cummins for opening up and explaining the team's influence in former head coach Justin Langer's resignation.
Follow Us
Former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy has praised Test captain Pat Cummins for opening up and explaining the team’s influence in former head coach Justin Langer‘s resignation. On Wednesday, Cummins opined on for the first time since Langer resigned, saying that the team needed a ‘new coaching style’ for the future as well.
However, Pat Cummins had been criticised by many former players recently for not saying anything in Langer’s matter. But with his comments coming in the public, he has now earned praises for being rock-solid and pretty clear about what he and his team want.
“It’s good isn’t it (that this is Cummins’ team). I allowed myself when I saw that press conference to picture Keith Miller. They were very strong words that he was saying in a nice manner, which is exactly what the team needs to know,” Ian Healy said on SEN’s Pat and Heals show.
READ MORE: ‘We need a new style of coaching and skill set’ – Pat Cummins
“He’s got our backs, he’s a good bloke, but he’s able to make tough decisions and agree or disagree with tough decisions that others make for him, in this case, Cricket Australia. On this occasion, he agreed with it, and was able to say JL shouldn’t be surprised, we’ve talked about it for two years,” further added Healy.
Ian Healy, who had played 119 Tests and 168 ODIs for Australia, opined on how the dynamics have changed once Pat Cummins replaced Tim Paine as the Test captain.
“Langer had Tim Paine first, a brand new captain who had a lot to do together. JL was able to mould him and do it together and maybe even dominate. But then two years in, it’s time to sit back and let the players and Tim Paine run the show,” he said.
READ MORE: Pat Cummins wins the internet with THIS gesture for Usman Khawaja
He continued: “Pat Cummins was (just) a player then, he would have had an opinion, ‘Geez, how long’s this going to last?’ But he became captain after Tim resigned and all those opinions were still there and there was change. One thing I can’t work out if there was a change, he (Cummins) says there was a change in JL and it was good change, but we’ve decided it wasn’t sustainable.”
Ian Healy concluded: “Those words (of Cummins’) helped JL in his next endeavours, so that’s perfect for England to hear. He’s done a great job and here we are on the track ready to go and move forwards further. The perfect man for England is basically able to be heard in that lot.”
