Justin Langer’s resignation as Australia cricket coach a sign of player ‘selfishness’, says Johnson

The revered baggy green cap is now a symbol of “selfishness” after Justin Langer’s controversial exit as Australia’s national cricket coach, according to Mitchell Johnson.

The fallout from the saga continues, as Langer himself acknowledged suggestions players found him “too intense”.

Fast bowling great Johnson has also taken aim over “gutless” actions by captain Pat Cummins and called for heads to roll at Cricket Australia (CA).

Johnson is one of a number of former players to lambast the treatment of Langer, who resigned on Saturday having been offered a six-month contract extension by the governing body amid reported complaints by players about his leadership style.

“(The CA board) not only lacked the spine to stand up to agitating players and tell them they weren’t in charge, but couldn’t summon the strength to dismiss Langer properly either,” Johnson, the country’s fifth-leading Test wicket-taker, wrote in The West Australian.

“Instead, they insulted the coach with a pathetic and unprofessional short-term extension offer.”

Langer’s resignation letter to CA chief executive Nick Hockley has also been made public.

In it, he says he was proud of his achievements with the team and supported the decision to “move in another direction”.

“If media reports are correct, several senior players and a couple of support staff don’t support me moving forward,” he wrote, according to The Australian.

“My life has been built on values of honesty, respect, trust, truth, and performance and if that comes across as ‘too intense’ at times, I apologise.

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“Hopefully a good job has been done and I wish the team every