Cummins speaks out over 'cowards' allegation

1 year ago 69

Australian Test skipper Pat Cummins has laughed disconnected suggestions helium is "too woke" and should "stick to cricket".

Cummins was peppered with tricky questions erstwhile helium fronted the media successful Perth connected Tuesday connected the eve of the season's opening Test.

The Aussies instrumentality connected the West Indies from Wednesday, but the build-up to the summertime has been mostly hijacked by erstwhile nationalist men's manager Justin Langer.

Langer - who declined a six-month declaration hold and exited the occupation successful February - past week went connected a podcast successful Western Australia and lambasted "cowards" who helium claims leaked stories astir him to media during his clip arsenic caput coach.

He named Cummins specifically, alleging the then-vice skipper approached him to outline concerns but lone aft Langer had already work and heard them successful reports.

Langer aboriginal clarified helium was not referring to immoderate of the players erstwhile helium utilized the word cowards.

On Tuesday, Cummins had his accidental to respond to the latest saga involving his erstwhile coach.

"We would ever similar to speech astir the cricket. There's truthful galore bully things going connected with this Test team, No.1 successful the satellite astatine the moment, we've had a fantastic 12 months," Cummins said.

"I deliberation there's truthful galore bully stories astir the week. It's disappointing I conjecture that the absorption gets drawn to off-field issues, but it hasn't truly affected our team.

"There are nary cowards successful the Australian cricket team, not ever. So acknowledgment Justin for clarifying his remarks afterwards.

Tubby's connection to Langer

"I deliberation helium had a deliberation astir it and clarified it, truthful I convey him for that.

"We're truly arrogant of the past 12 months, however we've fronted up, the mode we've played, the mode we've conducted ourselves. The players tin surely clasp our heads high."

Cummins was asked whether helium was disappointed Langer had fundamentally divulged a backstage speech connected a podcast.

"I wouldn't ever disclose backstage conversations... you would person to inquire Justin," Cummins said.

"There was nary ill-will to what helium was trying to do, and helium clarified afterwards."

One writer asked Cummins astir allegations helium is "too woke" fixed the societal issues the skipper - who was appointed this clip past twelvemonth - is shining a airy connected successful his role.

Cummins reveals squad for archetypal Test

Reports emerged past period Cummins had requested Cricket Australia extremity a concern with Alinta Energy successful a determination to enactment clime action.

The Test squad volition besides instrumentality a genu for the archetypal clip connected Wednesday successful solidarity with the West Indies to enactment the Black Lives Matter movement.

"I deliberation successful this presumption you're ever going to upset people, whether you bash thing oregon you don't bash something," Cummins said.

"I cognize what I signed up for. I besides deliberation we're cricket players, but you can't permission your values astatine the door. People basal for antithetic things.

"Something similar taking a genu this week, we're doing it retired of respect for the West Indies successful enactment of equality.

"Anyone who says that's a atrocious thing, I'm not excessively bothered about."

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