Treatment of Justin Langer is just not cricket

CA allowed the debate about Langer's position to fester publicly for a year, with barely a word from senior administrators until after he walked.

It was demeaning to Langer, one of Australia's greatest modern-day cricketers, who was acknowledged recently as a CA Hall of Fame inductee by the same administration that presided over his eventual demise as coach.

So, it was hardly surprising he rejected the insulting offer of a contract extension that was not befitting his standing in the game and achievements.

Player discontent with the feisty West Australian's management style and mood swings has been bubbling under the surface for some time and it appears to have reached boiling point after the home Test series loss to India last summer. By all reports, Langer heeded advice to rein in his hard-nosed style and delegated extra responsibilities to assistants Andrew McDonald and Michael Di Venuto.

Players earn praise for their successes individually and collectively, and equally, coaches should share the spoils. But Test skipper Pat Cummins' public support of Langer was qualified, and the silence from several other senior players, as the coach's future was being discussed during the past few months, has been deafening.

Langer took over as coach in the wake of the damaging "sandpaper" scandal almost four years ago and under his guidance, Australia has resurrected its fortunes and reputation.

It is hard to comprehend he has gone so quickly after such a golden period for Australian cricket, having won the T20 World Cup and following that with a 4-0 triumph in the Ashes series.

Langer's services are sure to be in high demand around the world. England is looking for a new coach after the resignation of Chris Silverwood - how ironic would it be if the West Australian was spearheading the challenge to regain the Ashes from Australia next year.

It won't be Langer's problem as the national team faces tough tours in the sub-continent in the next six months, but the afterglow of the Ashes triumph has camouflaged serious questions.

Australia's bowlers blasted through an insipid England during the final Ashes Test at Blundstone Arena, but selectors are no closer to finding the best batting group.

The decision to use Usman Khawaja as David Warner's opening partner was a dismal failure in Hobart.

Khawaja made a triumphant return to the Test team in the middle order at the SCG and should have been left there.

Marcus Harris' Test performances have been far from convincing this summer, apart from a gutsy knock in the third Test, but the Victorian has the advantage of being much younger than Warner and Khawaja.

Having two 35-year-old opening batsmen is hardly an ideal scenario for the tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka this year and selectors have put themselves in the difficult position of weighing up whether to go back to Harris or looking elsewhere in the foreseeable future.

Warner started the Ashes series with 94 and 95 in his opening two innings, but dropped off considerably, finishing with a pair at Blundstone Arena.

The veteran's record away from home is far inferior to his performances in Australia and he has shown a vulnerability against top-class pace bowling when conditions are not on his terms.

The batting woes don't finish with the opening pair.

Steve Smith has been one of the world's premier batsmen, but there have been signs this summer that his idiosyncratic style and technique is far more vulnerable than previously.

Maybe Smith, 32, is in a temporary slump and will demonstrate he is far from a spent force in the testing conditions of the sub-continent or is he on the decline?

Travis Head vindicated the selectors' faith by demonstrating an attacking mindset to score two match-winning centuries this series, but there are still chinks in the left-hander's technique.

When England's bowlers bowled short and at his body, Head did not look as comfortable. Other countries will take note of the left-hander's difficulty in handling that line of attack and try to exploit the weakness.

Then there is all-rounder Cameron Green at No. 6, whose batting improved later in the series.

Ideally, Green should bat at No. 7, but the fast bowling stocks are so good and the difficulty for selectors is narrowing it down to the best three specialist pacemen.

As Australia's women cricketers complete their successful international series against England this week, the burning question remains - why was only one Test scheduled?

Last month's Test in Canberra was only the Australians' second this season, having played a draw with the touring Indians on the Gold Coast in October.

The series against England consisted of mainly limited-overs contests - three one-day internationals and three T20 matches.

The one-off Test at Manuka Oval was an enthralling contest over four days, culminating in a thrilling finish.

Cricket Australia should do everything within its power to schedule more Tests.

These talented women deserve the opportunity to play at least three Tests every summer and it would create far wider interest.

Has Howard got it right?

Email: howardkotton11@gmail.com; Twitter: @hpkotton59