Steve Waugh claims too much unfair spotlight has been put on Justin Langer, but is adamant his former teammate's willingness for a fight means he won't quit as Australia's coach.
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Langer's future is a talking point again this week, despite Australia's Twenty20 World Cup triumph theoretically boosting his chances of a contract extension next year.
That has in part been propelled by Michael Clarke's suggestion that Langer - whose contact is up in mid-2022 - may walk away if Australia win the summer's home Ashes.
Australia's T20 success came after months of questions over Langer's future, including whether his coaching style had become too intense for players locked into biosecurity bubbles.
Langer has since spoken about adapting to take a more hands-off approach at times during the World Cup, while an enjoyable camp was also referenced heavily in the win.
But few know what makes Langer tick like Waugh, who played alongside him for a decade and worked alongside him as a coach in the 2019 Ashes.
"I talk to him regularly and he has never talked to me about stepping down or backing away from a challenge," Waugh said.
"His whole career he was up against it. He was always a player on the edge, the next one to be dropped and will he get into the side?
"In a lot of ways it motivates him.
"You see it again, when you think he is down he just comes back and succeeds (with the T20 World Cup win).
"That's just in his nature."
Langer has previously indicated he wants to coach a Test series win in India, with the next visit currently slated for the start of next summer.
Waugh believed Langer would have no issue with CA waiting until after the home summer to consider renewing his contract.
"He knows there are no free rides," Waugh said.
"But I think what he and Tim Paine and Aaron Finch have done since Cape Town has been a pretty amazing transformation.
"You can't forget what has happened to the side and what they have done."
In turn Waugh argued the pressure on Langer in recent months had been unfair, as the former captain launched his own 'Spirit of Cricket - India' photography exhibition in Sydney.
"I would like to think the players take responsibility for winning or losing, not the coach," Waugh said.
"There has been far too much emphasis on Justin Langer's performance and not the players.
"Realistically, India last season, they should have won that series comfortably.
"India were missing all their stars, we bowled them out for 36 in Adelaide and to lose from there.
"I don't think you can point the finger and say that is the coach's fault. I think the players have to step up and take more responsibility."
Australian Associated Press
