Justin Langer-related leaks portray Australian team as brats: Sunil Gavaskar

Coach Justin Langer (right) and captain Tim Paine during Australia`s practice session on the eve of their third Test match against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground last month. Pic/Getty Images

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has lambasted the Australian team after stories emerged that some players were not happy with the coach's style of functioning in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which the hosts lost 1-2.

"The leaks to the media about Langer actually reflects badly on the Australian team as it portrays them as brats who can't accept they were outplayed and so need to shift the blame elsewhere," wrote Gavaskar in a column which appeared in Sunday Mid-day.

"Stories planted in the media by the players or their agents or managers are making out that it was Langer's intensity and passion that had the players under pressure and so affected their game. This is utter rubbish as once the players are out on the field, the coach can do nothing and the players themselves have to find the answers to the questions asked by the opposition," Gavaskar stressed. However he questioned the logic of Australia deciding to bat first in the Melbourne Test match. "The one thing that they could possibly pin on the coach and the advisory group is the decision to bat first in the Melbourne Test match.

"Whether that was only the captain and senior players' decision to bat first or whether it was one that the coach Langer encouraged Tim Paine to take is not known but apart from that possibility, the Australians have nobody else to blame than themselves," wrote Gavaskar.