Usman Khawaja has rallied behind Australia head coach Justin Langer and called on players “to take ownership” for their performances.

Langer’s coaching style has been under intense scrutiny of late. Following a heated exchange between the former Australia opener and a cricket.com.au journalist during the recent tour of Bangladesh, journalist Malcolm Conn – previously a communications manager at Cricket Australia – wrote last week in the Sydney Morning Herald that “players are being worn down by the volatile, high-stress environment he inhabits as coach, and his folksy, cliched motivational homilies”.

CA responded to Conn’s remarks by publicly backing Langer to carry Australia through the T20 World Cup and upcoming Ashes series.

“I think the most important and disappointing thing is the players haven’t stood up and chatted to JL about this a long time ago. Things are still coming out in the media,” Khawaja said on his official YouTube channel, regarding players leaking dressing-room issues to the media.

“How do you think JL feels? He probably feels like the guys in the team are stabbing him in the back. And that’s what it looks like. That’s why it’s so disappointing. It’s a really bad look and it’s something the group needs to sort out ASAP.

“It’s not always 100 per cent the coach’s fault. The guys aren’t performing, the players have to take ownership at some stage.”