Langer backs Paine over texting controversy

AUSTRALIAN coach Justin Langer has thrown his support behind embattled former captain Tim Paine, describing him as one of the best people in cricket.

Paine resigned from the captaincy of the Australian Test team less than a month before a home Ashes series when sexual text messages between him and a former Cricket Tasmania employee were made public.

Pat Cummins has since been appointed to the leadership position, with Steve Smith to be his vice-captain for the upcoming series.

Paine took over in the wake of the sandpaper scandal in South Africa that threatened to tear apart Australian cricket, and alongside Langer, did an exemplary job in leading the team into a new era.

Langer confirmed reports he had gone to visit Paine after exiting hotel quarantine in Queensland, describing the decision as a “no-brainer”.

“He’s one of my really close friends and someone I admire enormously,” Langer said.

“He’s one of the best people I’ve met in the game of cricket, as I said he’s been our captain for a long time, he and I have been through a journey like we have with all this group.

“He’s one of the best people I’ve met in cricket, so it was nice to go down and see him.

“You’d have to ask how he’s going, when I saw him, he was obviously shattered with what’s happened because he’s been such an exemplary figure in Australian cricket for the last four years particularly.

“His life has changed obviously… all I know is that it was important to go see him, we talk about looking after our boys, having each other’s backs, it was a no-brainer for me to go see him.

“I’m very sad about what’s happened.”

A week after resigning, Paine dropped another bombshell when a statement revealed he would not be available for selection, and would consequently sit out the Ashes.

Test debutant Alex Carey will take the gloves in his absence.

Paine recently told the Herald Sun in an interview that Langer had wanted the 37-year-old to remain in Australian cricket’s top job, and although the coach refused to be drawn into specifics, he appeared to suggest Paine’s sexting scandal had been overblown by the media.

“We live in a world of perfectionism, don’t we?” Langer said.

“We’re a very judgemental society, and as I said in my very first press conference when I was asked about Steve Smith and David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, there’s not one person who’s asking questions here, who’s on the camera there, who’s listening to this or who’s watching this that hasn’t made a mistake in their life.

“There’s not a single person, and our captain, one of our best, made a mistake and he’s paying a heavy price for it.

“What I see, I continually see in this job and I see it in the society we live in is it can be brutal, you learn your lessons but we live in an unforgiving society and that’s a real shame.”

At 36 years old, Paine’s national cricket career appears all but over, however Langer isn’t so sure.

“He loves cricket. He absolutely loves cricket,” Langer said.

“And he’s 37. He is as fit as any athlete, certainly in our squad. He looks after himself so well. He’s very focused, so who knows.

“His number one priority at the moment is family as you can imagine, and that’s how it should be.

“I’m not sure we’ve seen the end of him. But we’ll wait and see. That’ll be his decision.”

Langer has faced his own critics on leadership in the past 12 months over his intense nature, however a public acceptance of his flaws seems to have rejuvenated the Australian outfit.

They recently won the 2021 T20 World Cup with Langer at the helm and will look to record another career-defining victory with a win in the five-Test Ashes series.

– BY SEB MOTTRAM/ SEN