Aaron Finch slams "disappointing" leaks about Justin Langer ahead of Ashes

Australia 's white ball captain Aaron Finch has admitted that leaks coming from within the Australian camp about under-pressure head coach Justin Langer are "disappointing".

Following Australia's 2-1 home defeat to a weakened Indian Test team earlier this year, reports circulated of players being unhappy with Langer's coaching style.

Langer initially moved to dismiss these concerns, telling the Sydney Morning Herald it "couldn't be further from the truth".

However, Langer went on to say that "leadership isn't a popularity contest", adding: "If players just want someone to tickle their stomachs all the time then I'm not doing my job."

More recently, it emerged that Langer and team manager Gavin Dovey had been involved in a heated exchange with a Cricket Australia staffer during the side's T20I series defeat to Bangladesh.

The incident, first reported by The Age, occurred in front of a number of witnesses and reportedly 'left some players taken aback and with a sense of unease about what had transpired'.

Dovey has since publicly apologised, but the event has once again raised concerns over Langer's coaching style.

Finch, who is currently recovering from knee surgery and was not part of the tour to Bangladesh, has been asked about the reports concerning Langer and conceded that "when things are being leaked out from inside, that's not a great look".

Speaking to SEN Radio, Finch said: "There's always tension when results don't go your way in all sports."

"Wins and losses are what count. I think anytime that doesn't happen, that all gets amplified. It's just one of those things.

"It's disappointing that things are coming to the front the way that they are, that's never ideal. It's just one of those things that keeps popping up, which is disappointing.

"The camp we had on the Gold Coast, to go through our culture and values and things like that, especially from a playing group, was really important, and one that I think players got a lot out of.

"But when things are being leaked out from inside, that's not a great look."

Following the public debate over Langer's future, Cricket Australia have issued a public vote of confidence in the coach, with CEO Nick Hockley saying: "Justin has done an incredible job in raising the culture, values and behaviours of the Australian men's team since he took on the role in 2018.

"His efforts have restored public faith in the national team which is a side all Australian's can be incredibly proud of.

"He is contracted as Head Coach through to the middle of next year with the focus now on a successful T20 World Cup campaign followed by the home Ashes defence in what is one of the most anticipated Series and summers of cricket in Australia for many years.

"Like many in the community and around the world the team has had an extremely disruptive and challenging 18 months during the pandemic.

"Despite those challenges the side has had great success in One-Day, Test and T20 cricket, when all players were available.

"Justin, his coaching staff and the leaders within the team have an equally important part to play in ensuring a successful summer ahead for the Australian cricket team."

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