Search

show me:

Australia win back public respect: Langer

3 minute read

Justin Langer believes his team have won back the respect from the Australian public that they lost following the ball-tampering scandal.

Head coach JUSTIN LANGER
Head coach JUSTIN LANGER Picture: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

Justin Langer believes his team have finally won back the respect of the Australian public following their World Cup campaign.

Australia reached the semi-finals of the tournament before losing to England, but also had no serious on-field incidents at all on the field

Adam Zampa was the only player reprimanded by the ICC for an audible obscenity against Afghanistan, while no players were caught in a confrontation with opponents.

Steve Smith and David Warner were also routinely booed by fans throughout the competition, but held back with the pair's only real response a wave to the crowd.

It comes after the behaviour of the team was heavily questioned following the ball-tampering scandal last year, as well as in an external review.

"We've been talking about it for 12 months about earning respect back with the way we behave on and off the field," Langer said.

"I would like to see that (behaviour) continue (for everyone).

"I think we have (won respect back). I hope we have. We can't judge that.

"We talk about cultures and behaviour and hopefully we are doing the right things on and off the field.

"And if we do that we'll do what we set out to do 12 or 14 months back, earn some respect back."

The entire tournament has been played in reasonably good spirit, with England opener Jason Roy's 30 per cent fine for dissent in the semi-final the biggest punishment handed down by the ICC.

Australia's captain Aaron Finch noted last month the on-field aggression had been toned down from 2015, where Australia were criticised for a number of send offs in the finals.

Meanwhile Langer said the returns of Warner and Smith for the Ashes would not create any distraction in the group with more hostile receptions expected and scrutiny of the team to increase.

"There has been a lot said about what happened in South Africa," Langer said.

"We are honestly moving in the right direction. Hopefully we are showing that.

"The boys are both showing that by their behaviours. Not just with their batting, I think they have been really good ambassadors on and off the field.

"They've been good people and I am proud of them for that. What's happened happened in the past ... Hopefully they are redeeming themselves."

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au