'Needs to come out': Michael Clarke's truth bomb for Pat Cummins

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke says current skipper Pat Cummins needs to make his feelings about Justin Langer's resignation clear, after being singled out for criticism over the messy saga.

Langer resigned as head coach of the Australian men's cricket team on Saturday after rejecting a six-month extension tabled to him by the Cricket Australia (CA) board.

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Assistant coach Andrew McDonald has been appointed interim head coach ahead of next month’s Pakistan tour.

Langer wanted to remain in the role long-term but deemed CA's short-term offer unacceptable, with none of Australia's players coming out to endorse a lengthier contract for the 51-year-old.

It's been reported that several senior players and staff grew tired of Langer's intense management style, with Cummins doing nothing to squash that idea after side-stepping questions about Langer's future before he departed.

Many former players including Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Steve Waugh and Mitchell Johnson have been vocal in their opposition to the way Langer was treated.

Johnson was particularly scathing at the role he insisted Cummins must have played in Langer's demise, labelling the skipper "gutless" over the sorry saga.

CA's boss has since come out to defend the Aussie captain and insists he was just one of a number of people consulted in discussions about Langer's future.

However, Clarke says it's now up to Cummins to set the record straight and give cricket fans an honest and open opinion about Langer's exit.

“Patty needs to come out and make his opinion very clear,” Clarke told The Big Sports Breakfast.

“Cricket Australia have to allow him to be open and honest, otherwise he will be blamed for this. A lot of people are smashing him for this.

Johnson claimed that by failing to back his coach, Cummins had "failed" his first big test as Australian captain.

“He had plenty of public opportunities to endorse an extension for Langer. So when he let it through to the keeper every time, it became pretty obvious he didn’t want it to happen," Johnson wrote.

“Cummins holds a lot of power and must have been central to what’s happened. He’s clearly had an agenda to get in a coach he wants. His recent interviews have been gutless by not respecting his coach when he could have been upfront from the start.”

Pat Cummins urged to address Justin Langer exit

Clarke says he understands some of the anger being directed at Cummins and believes the skipper should take notice of the feedback from some of Australia's greatest players.

“I saw Mitchell Johnson’s comments, he smoked him. I think a lot of people are thinking what Mitch is thinking. You’ve got the likes of Mark Taylor talking about it, Steve Waugh making comments, Ricky Ponting’s comments are very strong.

“When Steve Waugh comes out and says something that’s big. He’s not paid by anyone. For him to come out and make a comment, this thing is heavy. You’ve got past legends fuming with how a 100-Test player and very successful coach has been treated.

“I’m suggesting to Pat Cummins as the leader, he needs to stand tall and explain to past players – Mitchell Johnson, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden – plus the fans and cricket lovers, what the hell is going on here?

“My question is how much involvement did Pat have? Did he want this change and (if so) why? Bring on accountability. When you lose, that’s on you as captain. If this is what Patty wants, respect to him but he’s going to have to take the hits as well.”

Clarke sympathised with the "lose-lose" position that Cummins had been put in but agreed with Johnson's assertion that accountability was central to his role as Australia's captain.

“His reputation is squeaky-clean. Right now it has taken a hit, until he stands there and voices his opinion. Look what Mitchell Johnson said about Pat Cummins. A teammate, a friend of his has smoked him.

“My advice to Patty is he has got to stand there. He needs to tell the fans where he sits on this because everyone thinks it is Patty who made the decision. That accountability sits with him.

“He is trying to honour both parties and has done it very well. He is trying to look after Cricket Australia. I don’t like seeing Pat get smacked for this because I think he is in a lose-lose situation. He sits right in the middle.”

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