*Justin Lee Langer
*Born: 21 November 1970
*Teams: Australia, Middlesex, Somerset, Western Australia
*Tests: 104
*7,650 runs, 23x100, 30x50
*ODIs: 8
*First-class games: 298
*24,063 runs, 74x100, 92x50
*Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2001
Batsman Justin Langer has become the latest Australian to announce his retirement from Test cricket.
The fifth Ashes Test, which starts at 2330 GMT, will now be the last for Langer, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.
Langer made his debut against the West Indies in 1993 and has scored 7,650 runs in 104 matches at a 45.26 average.
"There hasn't been a waking moment for the last 20 years where I haven't thought about playing Test cricket, so this is a tough moment," he said.
"The reason it's so hard is that I don't want to let it go. I don't want to stop playing for Australia. It's emotional, I feel sad about it but I know in my heart it's the right thing to do.
"I retire from this game having played with some of the greatest players of all time. It's been a privilege to play with Shane and Glenn and Adam Gilchrist, the greatest wicket-keeper of all time, Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting, who is the greatest batsman this country has produced after Bradman."
Unlike fellow Western Australian Damien Martyn, who announced his retirement from all cricket following the second Test against England, Langer will continue to play at state level.
He will also be in England during 2007 after accepting an offer to return to Somerset to play county cricket, having hit a career best 342 for the club last summer.
Langer, who has also written books about cricket and been a columnist for this website for the last six years, was primarily a middle order batsman during the first phase of his Test career but reinvented himself as an opener during the 2001 tour to England.
Short of form during the tour, he had to wait until the final Test at The Oval to make his first appearance of the series but marked the occasion with an innings of 102.
Since then, he and Hayden have been inseparable at the top of the order, becoming one of the greatest opening pairs of the modern era.
They have shared 14 century partnerships, a total exceeded only by Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes for West Indies (16) and England's Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe (15).
Langer made his highest Test score of 250 against England at Melbourne in December 2002 and began the current series with an innings of 100 not out at Brisbane, his 23rd century for Australia.
It was a typically determined and brave effort by a player who had suffered a serious concussion when he was struck on the head by a ball from South Africa's Makhaya Ntini in his previous Test in April.
"To me, it's not just a game. It's been the vehicle that I've learned how to handle success, how to handle criticism, how to handle failure, how to fight back from adversity.
"I've learned about mateship, I've learned about leadership - it's never been just a game for me," the 36-year-old father of four added.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland paid tribute to Langer's achievements since first wearing the famous baggy green cap.
"Justin recently became the first West Australian and only the 10th Australian to play 100 Tests for Australia.
"That of itself is a rare accomplishment and is a measure of his achievements as a cricketer, and is a tribute to his ability to fight his way back to the top after setbacks early in his international career.
"But the pride and dignity with which he represented his country, and the calm authority he has exercised within a team of great, once-in-a-lifetime champions, is something cricket fans will remember most," he commented.
Sutherland urged Australian supporters to ensure a "rousing farewell" for Langer, Warne and McGrath in Sydney, where Australia will attempt to complete the first 5-0 Ashes whitewash since 1920-21.
"This outstanding trio will have played 374 Tests between them by the end of this game.
"It will be a long while before we see Australian cricketers of this ilk playing together again," he added.
Showing posts with label Justin Langer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Justin Langer. Show all posts
Monday, January 01, 2007
Justin Langer column
After the build-up to the Ashes, it is hard to describe the satisfaction of winning the last four Test matches.
Like playing in the same team as Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, this series has been without doubt one of the great highlights of my career.
Since retrieving the Ashes by winning at the Waca, there have been plenty of off-field dramas marking the end of two of the most decorated careers in Australian sporting history.
First it was the man who single-handedly changed the face of cricket internationally.
With his blonde hair and glittering earrings, the man voted by Wisden as one of the five most influential players in the history of the game decided it was time to bow out.
Having taken over 700 Test wickets, the brilliant Shane Warne is leaving the game on his terms and at a point when he is still the best bowler in the world.
He put in another superb man-of-the-match performance in our latest victory in Melbourne and has been the X-factor in the series.
As Andrew Flintoff was the difference last time we met, Shane has been the key this summer.
Playing with him and watching the poetry of his bowling has been without doubt one of the privileges of my career.
I have no doubt that as the years go by, people will be most interested in what it was like to play with Shane, just as Sir Donald Bradman's peers are so often asked what it was like to be in the same XI as the world's greatest ever batsman.
A few days after Shane called it quits, his partner in crime, and statistically the best fast bowler Australia has ever produced, also decided it was time to go out on his terms.
It seems inconceivable the Sydney Test in a few days' time will be the last time Glenn bowls in tandem with Shane.
The sad thing about the departure of these two friends is that while we will miss their wickets, experience and aura, we will also miss them.
They are two fantastic blokes who have been a part of some of the best memories of my life.
When Flintoff won the toss at the MCG and batted first it would be fair to say we were more than a little surprised.
While we are not allowed to bet on the game of cricket I would have staked my last dollar that England would bowl first if they won the toss on a moist surface.
From the first over of the Test match we felt on top and apart from the early loss of wickets when we batted, the flow of the game stayed with us throughout.
When Andrew Symonds walked out to the middle, I can't remember willing anyone more to score some runs.
Not only were we under pressure but I believe Andrew is one of those players who also possess that X-factor which makes him an invaluable member of this cricket team.
Unfortunately in the world we live in, statistics - runs and wickets - are the only currency of value.
Yet numbers alone rarely tell the whole tale of the value of certain players.
I have no doubt "Symo" is one of those players and now that he is adding those numbers to his awesome natural ability, we can all breathe a little easier at his prospects of playing more Test cricket.
The beauty and brilliance of Andy as a team-mate is that he can bat with the brutal authority that he displayed here in Melbourne.
He bowls medium-pace and off-spin, and is also the world's best fieldsman.
Importantly, he also adds character and humour to the changing room and his passion for the Baggy Green cap and his mates is infectious.
His reaction when he reached his maiden Test century was priceless and, considering he was batting with one of his best mates in Matty Hayden, it was hard to hold back the tears when the ball sailed twenty rows back into the grandstand.
No one has encouraged and supported Symo like "Haydos" has, so it was one of those magical moments when the two of them were able to celebrate such a milestone in front of 75,000 people at the MCG.
My opening partner was once again brilliant in this Test; fighting hard for a couple of hours before playing at his belligerent best.
His timely century and partnership with his fishing partner was the cornerstone for our fourth victory of the summer and eleventh consecutive Test triumph.
From Melbourne,
JL
By Justin Langer,BBC sports
Like playing in the same team as Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, this series has been without doubt one of the great highlights of my career.
Since retrieving the Ashes by winning at the Waca, there have been plenty of off-field dramas marking the end of two of the most decorated careers in Australian sporting history.
First it was the man who single-handedly changed the face of cricket internationally.
With his blonde hair and glittering earrings, the man voted by Wisden as one of the five most influential players in the history of the game decided it was time to bow out.
Having taken over 700 Test wickets, the brilliant Shane Warne is leaving the game on his terms and at a point when he is still the best bowler in the world.
He put in another superb man-of-the-match performance in our latest victory in Melbourne and has been the X-factor in the series.
As Andrew Flintoff was the difference last time we met, Shane has been the key this summer.
Playing with him and watching the poetry of his bowling has been without doubt one of the privileges of my career.
I have no doubt that as the years go by, people will be most interested in what it was like to play with Shane, just as Sir Donald Bradman's peers are so often asked what it was like to be in the same XI as the world's greatest ever batsman.
A few days after Shane called it quits, his partner in crime, and statistically the best fast bowler Australia has ever produced, also decided it was time to go out on his terms.
It seems inconceivable the Sydney Test in a few days' time will be the last time Glenn bowls in tandem with Shane.
The sad thing about the departure of these two friends is that while we will miss their wickets, experience and aura, we will also miss them.
They are two fantastic blokes who have been a part of some of the best memories of my life.
When Flintoff won the toss at the MCG and batted first it would be fair to say we were more than a little surprised.
While we are not allowed to bet on the game of cricket I would have staked my last dollar that England would bowl first if they won the toss on a moist surface.
From the first over of the Test match we felt on top and apart from the early loss of wickets when we batted, the flow of the game stayed with us throughout.
When Andrew Symonds walked out to the middle, I can't remember willing anyone more to score some runs.
Not only were we under pressure but I believe Andrew is one of those players who also possess that X-factor which makes him an invaluable member of this cricket team.
Unfortunately in the world we live in, statistics - runs and wickets - are the only currency of value.
Yet numbers alone rarely tell the whole tale of the value of certain players.
I have no doubt "Symo" is one of those players and now that he is adding those numbers to his awesome natural ability, we can all breathe a little easier at his prospects of playing more Test cricket.
The beauty and brilliance of Andy as a team-mate is that he can bat with the brutal authority that he displayed here in Melbourne.
He bowls medium-pace and off-spin, and is also the world's best fieldsman.
Importantly, he also adds character and humour to the changing room and his passion for the Baggy Green cap and his mates is infectious.
His reaction when he reached his maiden Test century was priceless and, considering he was batting with one of his best mates in Matty Hayden, it was hard to hold back the tears when the ball sailed twenty rows back into the grandstand.
No one has encouraged and supported Symo like "Haydos" has, so it was one of those magical moments when the two of them were able to celebrate such a milestone in front of 75,000 people at the MCG.
My opening partner was once again brilliant in this Test; fighting hard for a couple of hours before playing at his belligerent best.
His timely century and partnership with his fishing partner was the cornerstone for our fourth victory of the summer and eleventh consecutive Test triumph.
From Melbourne,
JL
By Justin Langer,BBC sports
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Langer 'on brink of retirement'
Opening batsman Justin Langer could be the next Australian veteran to announce his retirement.Langer is set to play his 105th Test this week and could follow Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath into retirement.
His father Colin told the Sunday Age newspaper his son was "not going to hang on for the sake of hanging on".
"What he's done to get fit for this series is unbelievable, the physical effort, the time spent with his batting coach," said the senior Langer.
"People don't see all that, but we do. He's worked hard with the ability he had. He's had to work so hard to get where he is."
The left-handed Langer, who is also a BBC Sport columnist, indicated after Australia regained the Ashes in Perth that he was nearing the end, but he insists he will announce his retirement after his final match, not before.
The Western Australian opener has scored 7,650 runs at 45.26 and has made 257 runs in the current Ashes series.
His 100th Test, played against South Africa in Johannesburg, will be remembered for Makhaya Ntini crashing a bouncer into his head which forced his withdrawal from the tour of Bangladesh.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)