Langer says Smith-led Aussies were 'spoilt brats'

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.

Published : Jun 14, 2018 19:07 IST , Sydney

 Justin Langer said that as a former player he “nearly died” when he heard about the scandal.
Justin Langer said that as a former player he “nearly died” when he heard about the scandal.
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Justin Langer said that as a former player he “nearly died” when he heard about the scandal.

New coach Justin Langer says that the Australian side was behaving like “spoilt brats” ahead of the Cape Town ball-tampering 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 in a British Sky TV interview, reported in Australian media on Thursday.

“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.”

READ: Australia's poor batting display frustrates Paine

He said that as a former player he “nearly died” when he heard about the scandal. “So, you've got to wonder why it gets to that point? But, it has happened now and we have got to make sure we learn from it and get better from it because we can't shy away either.”

The scandal was preceded by several other unseemly incidents in the South African series: a stairwell clash between Warner and Quinton de Kock, and Nathan Lyon dropping the ball on a prone A.B. de Villiers after he was run out.

- Why is Warner so angry? -

Asked about the difference between the aggressive side he once played in and Smith's team, Langer pointed the finger at the captaincy.

“I think Steve Smith, maybe, just wasn't strong enough in his leadership. But, he loves the game of cricket — he practises harder than anyone I've ever met — and he is a very, very nice young lad. There's no doubt about that,” he said.

Current skipper Tim Paine was also asked during the same television interview about how the Australia team found itself in such a dark place during the South African tour.

ALSO READ: England beats Australia by three wickets in 1st ODI

“I don't think it goes back to any one individual, but not living by our behaviours over a sustained period of time — not a year, two years, but probably even longer than that,” he said.

“It meant that something like Cape Town was probably going to happen, due to brushing over little things. But, the little things can turn into big things when you take your eye off the ball.”

Warner, who like Smith is serving a-year ban from state and international cricket, was blamed for developing the ball-tampering plot and instructing Bancroft to carry it out.

Langer said that he “has got that — you used the word, mongrel — a bit of bite in him”. “The question I'd ask with David is how he got so angry?”

Langer took charge of his first game on Wednesday, with Australia losing the opening match of its one-day series in England by three wickets at The Oval.

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