Justin Langer has resigned as Australia men's head coach after rejecting the offer of a six-month extension that would have taken him to the end of the men's T20 World Cup, reports ESPN.
The initial announcement was made by Langer's management company DSEG on Saturday, the morning after a lengthy CA board meeting had finished without a resolution, while he was flying from Melbourne to Perth, according to ESPN.
"DSEG confirms that our client Justin Langer has this morning tendered his resignation as coach of the Australian men's cricket team," the statement said. "The resignation follows a meeting with Cricket Australia last evening. The resignation is effective immediately."
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley confirmed the six-month offer, unanimously endorsed by the board on Friday, would have been the end to Langer's tenure with the view that it was time to transition to a new coaching era in the men's team. It had previously come close to finishing last August amid strained relationships with the players which first emerged a year ago before high-level talks patched the situation up to the extent that the World Cup and Ashes were won, reports ESPN.
"We very much felt that Justin had earned the right to defend the T20 World Cup on home soil…but we understand and respect his decision," Hockley said. "We were pretty clear with Justin that it was for a period of transition. When we sat down and looked at the needs of the team going forward, we felt that the team had evolved and the requirements of the head coach had, according to ESPN.
"We understand...many people will be disappointed by the decision to only offer Justin a short-term contract. The decision to start a process of transition is what we believe is in the best interest of the men's team for unity and future success."
Langer's manager James Henderson, who also manages Ricky Ponting, Tim Paine and Cameron Green made his views clear on Twitter, reports ESPN.
"As a player Justin retired on top after a 5-0 Ashes whitewash," Henderson wrote. "Today, despite the views of a faceless few, he finishes his time as Australian cricket coach winning the T20 World Cup and the Ashes. Lest we forget what JL took over in 2018."