Cummins makes clear there are “no cowards” in his Australian team

Pat Cummins has leapt to his team's defence in the wake of Justin Langer's scathing comments on the BackChat podcast, saying plainly that there are "no cowards" in the Australian team.

In February this year, Justin Langer was sensationally released as head coach by Cricket Australia when he was only offered a short-term contract leading into the World Cup.

Only recently, in the lead-up to the first home test since his departure, has the former player told his side of the story.

The core part of Langer's issues with how things ended revolve around the players not taking up their issues with him but instead airing them behind his back until things worsened to the point he was out of favour, ultimately labelling the unnamed perpetrators in the squad "cowards".

Speaking to reporters ahead of today's match against the West Indies, Cummins made it clear that he disagrees with his former coach.

"There's no cowards in an Australian cricket team, not ever," Cummins said.

"I'd probably never disclose private conversations. I think it's disappointing sometimes the focus gets drawn to off-field issues but it hasn't really affected our team."

Langer has since clarified his comments saying the players were like "younger brothers", and Cummins acknowledged that Langer's intention harboured no ill will.

"I think there's no ill will to what he was trying to do and he clarified afterwards," Cummins said.

"I think he had a think about it and clarified it, so thank him for that. But we're really proud of the last 12 months, how we've fronted up, the way we've played, the way we've conducted ourselves. Players can certainly hold their heads high."

Langer will be a part of the Channel 7 broadcast team for the opener in his home state of Western Australia, and Cummins said it would be good to have him around.

"He'll be in and around here commentating so it'll be good," Cummins said.

"We love playing here at the stadium. My idol mentor, DK Lillee as well, it's his home state."

Asked if he anticipates a frosty reception from the Western Australians due to how Langer left, Cummins added, "We haven't felt that at all".

The first test against the West Indies starts this afternoon at 1:20 PM AEDT in Perth's Optus Stadium.