Justin Langer opens up on the sandwich incident with Marnus Labuschagne

Justin Langer, the head coach of the Australian cricket team, has opened up on reports of his mini-controversy with young Aussie batter Marnus Labuschagne. If reports are to be believed, Langer, also a former Australian batsman, during the fourth Test against India at The Gabba in Brisbane, asked Labuschagne not to carry a toasted sandwich on the field.

It’s a part of the talks that a few of the Australian cricketers weren’t happy with Langer’s headmaster-like coaching style. After the ball-tampering scandal in 2018, coaches have been asking the players to not carry anything in their pockets. Langer admitted that he gets grumpy, but he also iterated the importance of self-reflection and learning.

Yeah I get grumpy sometimes: Justin Langer

“I’m the grumpiest p**ck in the world because I told Marnus Labuschagne not to take a toasted ham and cheese sandwich (to the dugout) after his 40-minute lunch break,” Langer was quoted as saying on the Cricket Et Cetera podcast.

“One thing I am very good at — and I wouldn’t be here today unless I was great at self-reflection, great at learning — I get advice all the time, one thing I do is I learn and I get better,” he stated.

“Do I get grumpy sometimes? Yeah I get grumpy sometimes, I’m not perfect that’s for sure, but I’m pretty good at some of the things I do and you just don’t like it when you feel people — through managers or players, whatever — I would rather they came straight to me, that’s the Australian way as I know it, let’s talk through it, let’s go through it and work things out,” Langer added.

Langer took charge as the head coach after the Newlands incident in 2018. Australian cricket was in shambles after Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were found guilty. However, the team gradually found its feet at the highest level.

Recently, they lost to India in the Border Gavaskar Trophy to India 1-2 after taking a 1-0 lead following their victory in the Adelaide Test. Labuschagne had decent outings, having also scored 108 runs in the final Test, though it went in vain as India won by three wickets.