Add Category
Test captain Pat Cummins says he has not spoken with Cricket Australia (CA) about the process of appointing a new men's head coach following Justin Langer's resignation earlier this month.
- Cummins says he has not been briefed by CA about the search for Langer's replacement
- He says he is not bothered by any criticism he has attracted since becoming Test captain
- Cummins says he is excited by the challenge of leading Australia on its Test tour of Pakistan
Langer stepped down when he rejected CA's offer of a short-term contract extension, ending months of speculation about his future in the role.
Cummins, who was appointed men's Test captain ahead of the Ashes series after Tim Paine's resignation, was one of the players who met with CA last year to raise concerns about Langer's coaching style.
In his media appearances prior to Langer's resignation, Cummins failed to endorse him as coach and said it was CA's responsibility to handle the "evaluation process" of his performance.
Andrew McDonald was named as the interim head coach ahead of Australia's tour of Pakistan.
Cummins said he had not been briefed by CA about the process of appointing Langer's long-term replacement.
"I know they're about to start that process," Cummins told ABC Sport.
Cummins was labelled "gutless" by retired Test fast bowler Mitchell Johnson in the wake of Langer's resignation.
Johnson, writing in The West Australian, said Cummins had not shown Langer support and "clearly had an agenda" about who he wanted as head coach.
Cummins said he was unfazed by any criticism he had attracted since becoming Test captain.
"I knew when I took up this job what I was getting myself into and I know the added responsibility, the scrutiny and the bad press that some decisions [attract]," he said.
Cummins said his main priority as skipper was to support his teammates.
"I think if anything it has reiterated that my job is to look after the team and Australian cricket and try and do my best," he said.
Cummins is about to lead Australia on its first Test tour of Pakistan since 1998.
Australia will play Pakistan in three Tests, with the series opener commencing on Friday in Rawalpindi.
Cummins said he expected the series to be played at a different "tempo" than what Australia experienced in the Ashes.
"I think that is a a challenge for us, especially as a captain trying to navigate the team through that, but I'm excited for it," he said.