Cricket Australia began a practice of interviewing players and support staff individually since the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Tim Ford, a leadership consultant interviewed the players. He "checked on player welfare at the end of a difficult season, he asked for their thoughts on the team’s values and what needed updating since they last underwent the process with him two years ago," according to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald.
"A robust end-of-season review of players and support staff shows Justin Langer needs to change his ways, as players move to take greater control of the dressing room heading into the final year of the coach’s contract. The Test great was given what sources familiar with the matter say was strong and straightforward feedback about his coaching style, while team manager Gavin Dovey was also not spared," read the report ahead.
Justin Langer has been under the scanner since Australia lost a home series against India in January 2021. This process of taking interviews aims at the overall development of the side for better performance. 40 players were interviewed individually for the same.
"This is effectively identical to the process undertaken before the last World Cup and the 2019 Ashes where the team performed strongly,” CA’s national teams boss Ben Oliver said in a statement to the Herald and The Age.
"Players are also at odds with team manager Dovey. His close relationship with Langer, along with Oliver’s perceived ties with Langer, has left team members feeling they have no outlet to address their concerns about the coach," the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Andrew McDonald is one coach who is allegedly liked by the players for his approachable behavior.