Justin Langer
Encyclopedia
Justin Lee Langer AM
(born 21 November 1970 in Perth, Western Australia
) is a former international cricket
er who represented Australia in 105 Test matches
and the current Assistant Coach and Batting Coach of the Australian cricket team. A left-handed batsman, his opening
partnership
with Matthew Hayden
was one of the most successful of all time. Langer is also a solid gully fielder, and was very occasionally the wicket-keeper
for the Australian one-day team. In January 2007 he retired from international cricket. He can play both aggressively and defensively, but has a reputation for grinding away. However, Langer's Test strike rate (54.22) is superior to that of noted stroke-makers Mark Waugh
(48.64) and Damien Martyn
(51.41). Langer is also the highest run-scorer for Western Australia in Pura Cup/Sheffield Shield matches. On 23 July 2009, in a match against Worcestershire
(whilst captaining Somerset
), Langer became the highest scoring Australian in first-class cricket.
Langer made his Test debut against the West Indies at the Adelaide Oval
, in January 1993. He received a rough welcome against an in-form West Indian bowling attack, and along with the rest of the Australian team, he took numerous blows from their pace bowlers. After only managing to score 20 in the first innings, Langer top-scored for Australia with 54 in the second, a famous chase by Australia that fell just 2 runs short. In the fifth and final Test of the series, Langer only managed to score 11 runs between his two innings in a match that was dominated by the bowling of Curtly Ambrose
and Ian Bishop.
He retained his place for the following tour of New Zealand. After decent but not awe-inspiring totals in the first two Tests (63 & 24), Langer suffered the indignity of getting a pair in the third Test, falling for a duck
in both innings. He was subsequently dropped, and other than a few scattered appearances would not return to the Australian Test team until October 1998, for the tour of Pakistan.
In November 1999 at Bellerive Oval
in Hobart
, he shared a match-winning 238-run partnership with Adam Gilchrist
to rescue Australia from 126/5 chasing a victory target of 369 against Pakistan. The century scored in this innings was scored in 388 minutes, an Australian record for the slowest century.
batsman until 2001 when he was dropped after failing to convert a series of starts during Australia's 2–1 loss in India. During the second Test in Kolkata, he bowled a single over when V. V. S. Laxman
and Rahul Dravid
defied the Australian attack for the entirety of the fourth day, forcing captain Steve Waugh to try almost all his players as bowlers; it was the only time Langer ever bowled at Test level. Shortly after though, he replaced Michael Slater
as an opening batsman for the final 2001 Ashes series Test at The Oval
where he celebrated his return with a century. He did not get dropped again and as an opening batsman he averaged 52.38 and scored 14 centuries in 44 matches; previously he scored 7 centuries in 41 matches at an average of 39.04. Langer returned to Australia in the 2002-03 Ashes series, where his very successful partnership with Matthew Hayden
developed. In this series, Langer scored his top score of 250 against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
.
He captained the Prime Minister's XI
in December 2005 in their match against the West Indies.
In the 2005 Ashes series, Langer top-scored for an unsuccessful Australian team, with 391 in the series. His top score was 105, scored in the final test.
After this, pressure was mounting on the opening partnership of Hayden and Langer. Calls were coming to have the pair replaced by a younger duo, that would ensure the future and stability of the team to come. However, the partnership had support from the Australian selectors and was only disrupted in the 2006 Summer series when Langer was out with injury. He was replaced by Mike Hussey and Phil Jaques
for two tests.
Langer then suffered a number of injuries, increasing the pressure on selectors to drop Langer for rising star Phil Jaques. However, Langer was selected over Jaques for the 2007 Ashes series, which would turn out to be his last. Langer scored an 80 and a century in the first test, but it was slim pickings to follow for him.
Despite success in the Australian Test team, he did not get recalled to the one-day team, even after he was named as the domestic ING Cup
's player of the season in 2002/03.
On 1 January 2007, Langer announced his retirement from Test cricket after the fifth Ashes
Test against England, starting at the Sydney Cricket Ground
the following day. In doing so, he joined Shane Warne
and Glenn McGrath
who had both announced their retirements earlier in the month. Coming only three matches after the surprise departure of Damien Martyn
. He came to the decision during the previous match in Melbourne, having earlier decided against retiring after the tour of South Africa to help Australia reclaim the Ashes. He said of his decision: "Everyone keeps saying 'you'll know when it's time'. Well, at one o'clock two days ago I knew it was time - it just came to me."
Despite his retirement from international cricket, Langer opted to continue to play first-class cricket, with Somerset
announcing on the same day that Langer had agreed to return to the English county in 2007 as captain. Langer had said during his retirement announcement that he was relishing returning to Somerset: "There's an amazing challenge at Somerset. They're at the bottom of everything, and I've got a great regard for the coach over there and I'm looking forward to that challenge." Langer also stayed on with the Western Australia for a final season in 2007–08.
until the end of the 2006/2007 season. He became the highest run-scorer for Western Australia in 4-day matches, after passing Tom Moody
's old record of 8853 runs on 5 December 2007 against the Tasmanian Tigers
at Bellerive Oval
.
On 5 March, Langer announced his retirement from Australian 4-Day Domestic Cricket. Earlier in the year, Langer announced his retirement from the One Day form of domestic cricket in Australia. However, Langer will play out another season for Somerset in county cricket. Langer played for Western Australia in a career spanning 17 years. Langer left as the highest run-scorer in Western Australia's history.
from 1998 to 2000, captaining the side in 2000. In his first season, he scored his maiden century in English domestic cricket in superb fashion with 233 not out
against Somerset
at Lord's
, in the same match that he was awarded his county cap. He went on to score centuries in his next two County Championship
matches, and achieved 1,000 runs for the season after only eight matches. He finished the season with the second highest runs total and batting average in the Championship, behind John Crawley
on both counts.
In June 2006 it was announced that he would join Somerset
later that month for six weeks, while fellow countryman Dan Cullen
was on duty with Australia A. On 20 July 2006, he made his highest first-class
score of 342 playing for Somerset in a County Championship
match against Surrey
at the Woodbridge Road
ground in Guildford
. This was also the highest score ever by a Somerset batsman, breaking the record of Sir Viv Richards
who made 322 against Warwickshire
at Taunton in 1985, and is the 10th highest score in a first-class match in England. During his six week spell at the club, Langer also enjoyed particular success in the Twenty20
competition, topping the batting charts along with fellow Australian Cameron White
.
On 20 April 2007 he became the first Somerset player to score two triple centuries in the County Championship when he hit 315 against Middlesex
in a match noted for its batting. Responding to a Middlesex first innings of 600, Somerset set a new ground record at the County Ground, Taunton with 850-7 declared
. On 19 September 2007 it was announced that Langer would stay with Somerset (as captain) for the 2008 season. In 15 first-class matches for the county in 2007, Langer scored 1215 runs at 57.85 and a further 764 in one-day competitions.
Early in the 2008 season
, Langer and Marcus Trescothick
put on a 272 second wicket partnership during the second innings against Hampshire
at the County Ground, Taunton; falling just 18 short of the 1924 ground record.
On 23 July 2009, playing his 615th innings, he surpassed Don Bradman as the leading Australian first-class run scorer when he scored his 86th century whilst playing Worcestershire. At the end of the 2009 season, Langer announced that he would not be returning to Taunton in a playing capacity the following season, and retiring from all competitive cricket. He commented in an interview with BBC Somerset that he was in discussions to potentially return at some point to the county in the future in a coaching capacity. Justin Langer played his last home game in English domestic cricket on 27 September 2009, captaining Somerset against Durham in the Nat West Pro40. A game which Somerset lost by two runs. Langer's last act as Somerset captain will be to take the side to compete in the 2009 Twenty20 Champions League.
, as a batting coach and mentor.
Langer is famous for his trilogy of duels with Shoaib Akhtar
. They both have great respect for each other as well as fear. Langer once said he has nightmares because of thunderbolt bouncers and good length deliveries, Shoaib answered that he has nightmares of Langer's square cuts, cover drives, pulls and hooks.
During a match in Peshawar in 1998, Langer and Mark Taylor
had a massive partnership. Shoaib was bowling at an extreme pace on a batsman's paradise. In that match Langer played a square drive off Akhtar's bowling that went for four between deep point and deep backward point. Shoaib rates this shot as the best stroke played by a batsman against his bowling.
Makhaya Ntini
and Curtly Ambrose
are among the very few bowlers who have been able to use their pace and accuracy to pressure Langer. In his 100th test, Langer was hit by a devastating bouncer from Ntini (South Africa v Australia, 3rd Test, Johannesburg, 2nd day). He underwent scans in hospital and suffered concussion. Despite the risk of being killed if hit on the head again, Langer padded up to bat in the second innings if it was required of him. Captain Ricky Ponting
wrote in his diary, that because of Langer's intention of defying medical advice, he would have had to declare the run chase and forfeit the match to prevent Langer from facing the bowling. Brett Lee
scored the winning runs before he was needed, however.
Justin Langer's most notable opening batting partner was Matthew Hayden
. The opening pair represented Australia in more than 100 Test innings. The pair made 5654 runs while batting together in partnerships, with an average of 51 runs per partnership; only Gordon Greenidge
and Desmond Haynes
of the West Indies have scored more Test runs as a partnership, with 6482.
. The Justin Langer Shield is played between year sevens of Newman and Aquinas.
He is the nephew of Rob Langer
, a left-handed batsman for Western Australia
during the 1970s and 1980s. Langer is married to his high school sweetheart, Sue, and has four daughters. When resident in Somerset, the family stayed in a rented home in Hatch Beauchamp
: Mate, I say this with the utmost affection and respect, but it's like living in the olden days.
He is also a talented martial artist. He has obtained the rank of Shodan-Ho (Probationary 1st Degree Black Belt) in Zen Do Kai
, and although usually a privilege reserved for 2nd Degree Black Belts and above he has received his Bushido Cross. The Bushido Cross exemplifies the connection between Teacher, Student and the Style, and is held in utmost reverence within the upper hierarchy of the Bob Jones Corporation. Due to the traditions of Zen Do Kai
, one who cannot fulfil his training duties before obtaining the rank of full 1st Degree Blackbelt Shodan
, will return to the previous belt (Brown Belt). Justin is dedicated to reclaiming his previous rank and exceeding, currently being trained personally by Kyoshi
Justin Boylan, a 7th degree in Zen Do Kai
and a well-respected and renowned martial artist, bodyguard and also the winner of a gold medal in Brazil at the World Masters, competing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Langer also stepped in the ring with Vic Darchinyan
for two rounds.
Langer has written four books. His first book was entitled From Outback to Outfield: A Revealing Diary of Life on the County Cricket Circuit. His second, an autobiography released after his return from rock bottom in 2001, entitled The Power of Passion. He also released a book with Steve Harmison
entitled Ashes Frontline: The Ashes War Diaries of Steve Harmison and Justin Langer about the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia. More recently, he wrote Seeing the Sunrise which has been described as "a handbook for overcoming self-doubt, for revelling in success, for aiming high. It is about mastering physical and mental goals, enjoying victories and fighting adversity."
Melbourne rock band Telemachus Brown wrote a song about Justin Langer entitled (Wrong about) Justin Langer. It was released on their 2006 EP Medicine Songs and was a hit for the band on Melbourne university radio. The song could be a reference to Langer's transformation from being an average Test batsman in his early career to a world-class opener later in his career.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 21 November 1970 in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
) is a former international cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who represented Australia in 105 Test matches
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and the current Assistant Coach and Batting Coach of the Australian cricket team. A left-handed batsman, his opening
Batting order (cricket)
In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time...
partnership
Partnership (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, two batsmen always bat in partnership, although only one is on strike at any time. The partnership between two batsmen will come to an end when one of them is dismissed or retires, or the innings comes to a close In the sport of cricket, two batsmen always bat in...
with Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden
Matthew Lawrence Hayden AM is a former Australian cricketer, and was signed to the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL until the 2010 season. Hayden is a powerful and aggressive left-handed opening batsman, known for his ability to score quickly at both Test and one day levels.Hayden holds the record...
was one of the most successful of all time. Langer is also a solid gully fielder, and was very occasionally the wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
for the Australian one-day team. In January 2007 he retired from international cricket. He can play both aggressively and defensively, but has a reputation for grinding away. However, Langer's Test strike rate (54.22) is superior to that of noted stroke-makers Mark Waugh
Mark Waugh
Mark Edward Waugh AM is a former Australian cricketer, who represented Australia in Test matches from early 1991 to late 2002, and made his One-Day International debut in 1988. Waugh is regarded as one of the most elegant and gifted stroke makers to ever play the game. His nickname is "Junior" as...
(48.64) and Damien Martyn
Damien Martyn
Damien Richard Martyn is a former Australian cricketer. He played for the national team sporadically in 1992–1994 before becoming a regular ODI player in 1999–2000 and a regular Test player in 2001 until his retirement in late 2006...
(51.41). Langer is also the highest run-scorer for Western Australia in Pura Cup/Sheffield Shield matches. On 23 July 2009, in a match against Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
(whilst captaining Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
), Langer became the highest scoring Australian in first-class cricket.
1993–2000
Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
, in January 1993. He received a rough welcome against an in-form West Indian bowling attack, and along with the rest of the Australian team, he took numerous blows from their pace bowlers. After only managing to score 20 in the first innings, Langer top-scored for Australia with 54 in the second, a famous chase by Australia that fell just 2 runs short. In the fifth and final Test of the series, Langer only managed to score 11 runs between his two innings in a match that was dominated by the bowling of Curtly Ambrose
Curtly Ambrose
Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose is a former West Indian cricketer. His skill was as a right-arm fast bowler, especially in partnership with Courtney Walsh...
and Ian Bishop.
He retained his place for the following tour of New Zealand. After decent but not awe-inspiring totals in the first two Tests (63 & 24), Langer suffered the indignity of getting a pair in the third Test, falling for a duck
Duck (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a duck refers to a batsman's dismissal for a score of zero.-Origin of the term:The term is a shortening of the term "duck's egg", the latter being used long before Test cricket began...
in both innings. He was subsequently dropped, and other than a few scattered appearances would not return to the Australian Test team until October 1998, for the tour of Pakistan.
In November 1999 at Bellerive Oval
Bellerive Oval
Bellerive Oval, also known as its sponsored name Blundstone Arena, is primarily a cricket and Australian Rules Football ground located in Bellerive, City of Clarence, on the eastern shore of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia...
in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, he shared a match-winning 238-run partnership with Adam Gilchrist
Adam Gilchrist
Adam Craig Gilchrist AM , nicknamed "Gilly" or "Churchy", is an Australian international cricketer who currently captains Kings XI Punjab and recently captained Middlesex. He is an attacking left-handed batsman and record-breaking wicket-keeper, who redefined the role for the Australian national...
to rescue Australia from 126/5 chasing a victory target of 369 against Pakistan. The century scored in this innings was scored in 388 minutes, an Australian record for the slowest century.
2001–2002
Langer was a number threeBatting order (cricket)
In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time...
batsman until 2001 when he was dropped after failing to convert a series of starts during Australia's 2–1 loss in India. During the second Test in Kolkata, he bowled a single over when V. V. S. Laxman
V. V. S. Laxman
Vangipurapu Venkata Sai Laxman , sometimes shortened to Venkatsai Laxman but generally known as V.V.S. Laxman, is an Indian cricketer. Laxman represents Hyderabad in domestic cricket and has played for Lancashire in English county cricket. Laxman is the great grand nephew of Dr. Sarvepalli...
and Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Sharad Dravid , is a cricketer in the Indian national team, of which he has been a regular member since 1996. He was appointed as the captain of the Indian cricket team in October 2005 and resigned from the post in September 2007. Dravid was honoured as one of the top-five Wisden Cricketers...
defied the Australian attack for the entirety of the fourth day, forcing captain Steve Waugh to try almost all his players as bowlers; it was the only time Langer ever bowled at Test level. Shortly after though, he replaced Michael Slater
Michael Slater
Michael Jonathon Slater is a former Australian cricketer who played in 74 Tests and 42 ODIs for the Australian cricket team from 1993 to 2001...
as an opening batsman for the final 2001 Ashes series Test at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
where he celebrated his return with a century. He did not get dropped again and as an opening batsman he averaged 52.38 and scored 14 centuries in 44 matches; previously he scored 7 centuries in 41 matches at an average of 39.04. Langer returned to Australia in the 2002-03 Ashes series, where his very successful partnership with Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden
Matthew Lawrence Hayden AM is a former Australian cricketer, and was signed to the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL until the 2010 season. Hayden is a powerful and aggressive left-handed opening batsman, known for his ability to score quickly at both Test and one day levels.Hayden holds the record...
developed. In this series, Langer scored his top score of 250 against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
.
2003–2007
Langer personally outscored the entire Pakistan side in the Perth Test of 2004. He scored 191 and 97 in the first innings while Pakistan made 179 and 72. It was the first occasion of a player being dismissed in both the 190s and 90s in a Test.He captained the Prime Minister's XI
Prime Minister's XI
Prime Minister's XI or PM's XI is the name of an annual cricket match held at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, with the Australian team picked by the Prime Minister of Australia playing against an overseas team...
in December 2005 in their match against the West Indies.
In the 2005 Ashes series, Langer top-scored for an unsuccessful Australian team, with 391 in the series. His top score was 105, scored in the final test.
After this, pressure was mounting on the opening partnership of Hayden and Langer. Calls were coming to have the pair replaced by a younger duo, that would ensure the future and stability of the team to come. However, the partnership had support from the Australian selectors and was only disrupted in the 2006 Summer series when Langer was out with injury. He was replaced by Mike Hussey and Phil Jaques
Phil Jaques
Philip Anthony Jaques is an Australian cricketer. He is a left-handed opening batsman who has played first-class cricket for New South Wales, Northamptonshire, Yorkshire and Worcestershire, as well as international cricket for Australia...
for two tests.
Langer then suffered a number of injuries, increasing the pressure on selectors to drop Langer for rising star Phil Jaques. However, Langer was selected over Jaques for the 2007 Ashes series, which would turn out to be his last. Langer scored an 80 and a century in the first test, but it was slim pickings to follow for him.
Despite success in the Australian Test team, he did not get recalled to the one-day team, even after he was named as the domestic ING Cup
ING Cup
The Australian domestic one-day cricket tournament, currently known as the Ryobi One Day Cup is the premier domestic limited overs cricket competition in Australia. The competition includes the six first-class cricket teams in Australia, as well as formerly including the Canberra Comets and the...
's player of the season in 2002/03.
Retirement
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
Test against England, starting at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
the following day. In doing so, he joined Shane Warne
Shane Warne
Shane Keith Warne is a former Australian international cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century, the only specialist bowler selected in the quintet...
and Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath
Glenn Donald McGrath AM , nicknamed "Pigeon", is a former Australian cricket player. He is one of the most highly regarded fast-medium pace bowlers in cricketing history, and a leading contributor to Australia's domination of world cricket from the mid-1990s to the early 21st century...
who had both announced their retirements earlier in the month. Coming only three matches after the surprise departure of Damien Martyn
Damien Martyn
Damien Richard Martyn is a former Australian cricketer. He played for the national team sporadically in 1992–1994 before becoming a regular ODI player in 1999–2000 and a regular Test player in 2001 until his retirement in late 2006...
. He came to the decision during the previous match in Melbourne, having earlier decided against retiring after the tour of South Africa to help Australia reclaim the Ashes. He said of his decision: "Everyone keeps saying 'you'll know when it's time'. Well, at one o'clock two days ago I knew it was time - it just came to me."
Despite his retirement from international cricket, Langer opted to continue to play first-class cricket, with Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
announcing on the same day that Langer had agreed to return to the English county in 2007 as captain. Langer had said during his retirement announcement that he was relishing returning to Somerset: "There's an amazing challenge at Somerset. They're at the bottom of everything, and I've got a great regard for the coach over there and I'm looking forward to that challenge." Langer also stayed on with the Western Australia for a final season in 2007–08.
Western Australia
Langer was the captain of the Western WarriorsWestern Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
until the end of the 2006/2007 season. He became the highest run-scorer for Western Australia in 4-day matches, after passing Tom Moody
Tom Moody
Thomas Masson Moody is a former Australian cricketer and coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team. Today he is the coach for the IPL team Kings XI Punjab...
's old record of 8853 runs on 5 December 2007 against the Tasmanian Tigers
Tasmanian Tigers
The Tasmanian cricket team, nicknamed the Tigers, represents the Australian state of Tasmania in cricket tournaments. They compete annually in the Australian domestic senior men's cricket season, which currently consists of the first-class Sheffield Shield, the limited overs Ford Ranger Cup, and...
at Bellerive Oval
Bellerive Oval
Bellerive Oval, also known as its sponsored name Blundstone Arena, is primarily a cricket and Australian Rules Football ground located in Bellerive, City of Clarence, on the eastern shore of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia...
.
On 5 March, Langer announced his retirement from Australian 4-Day Domestic Cricket. Earlier in the year, Langer announced his retirement from the One Day form of domestic cricket in Australia. However, Langer will play out another season for Somerset in county cricket. Langer played for Western Australia in a career spanning 17 years. Langer left as the highest run-scorer in Western Australia's history.
County Cricket
Langer played county cricket for Middlesex County Cricket ClubMiddlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
from 1998 to 2000, captaining the side in 2000. In his first season, he scored his maiden century in English domestic cricket in superb fashion with 233 not out
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
against Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
at Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
, in the same match that he was awarded his county cap. He went on to score centuries in his next two County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
matches, and achieved 1,000 runs for the season after only eight matches. He finished the season with the second highest runs total and batting average in the Championship, behind John Crawley
John Crawley
John Paul Crawley is a retired English professional cricketer, who represented England in 37 Test matches. He is regarded alongside his near contemporaries Graeme Hick and Mark Ramprakash as a hugely talented player who failed to realise his full potential at international level.Crawley is a...
on both counts.
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
later that month for six weeks, while fellow countryman Dan Cullen
Dan Cullen
Daniel James Cullen is an Australian cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and right-hand off break bowler. He plays his domestic cricket for South Australia and played for Somerset in the 2006 English cricket season....
was on duty with Australia A. On 20 July 2006, he made his highest first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
score of 342 playing for Somerset in a County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
match against Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
at the Woodbridge Road
Woodbridge Road
The Sports Ground, Woodbridge Road is a cricket ground in Guildford, Surrey. The ground was given to the town in trust in 1911 by Sir Harry Waechter, Bart. Guildford Cricket Club play their home matches on the ground. Surrey CCC play one County Championship match and one List A one-day match there...
ground in Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
. This was also the highest score ever by a Somerset batsman, breaking the record of Sir Viv Richards
Viv Richards
Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, KNH, OBE is a former West Indian cricketer. Better known by his second name, Vivian or, more popularly, simply as Viv or King Viv Richards was voted one of the five Cricketers of the Century in 2000, by a 100-member panel of experts, along with Sir Donald...
who made 322 against Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
at Taunton in 1985, and is the 10th highest score in a first-class match in England. During his six week spell at the club, Langer also enjoyed particular success in the Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
competition, topping the batting charts along with fellow Australian Cameron White
Cameron White
Cameron Leon White is an Australian cricketer and current Australian Twenty20 captain. A powerful middle order batsman and right-arm leg-spin bowler, White made his first-class cricket debut as a teenager in the 2000–01 season for the Victorian Bushrangers as a bowling all-rounder...
.
On 20 April 2007 he became the first Somerset player to score two triple centuries in the County Championship when he hit 315 against Middlesex
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
in a match noted for its batting. Responding to a Middlesex first innings of 600, Somerset set a new ground record at the County Ground, Taunton with 850-7 declared
Declaration and forfeiture
In the sport of cricket a declaration occurs when a captain declares his team's innings closed and a forfeiture is when a captain chooses to forfeit an innings. Declaration and forfeiture are covered in Law 14 of the Laws of cricket...
. On 19 September 2007 it was announced that Langer would stay with Somerset (as captain) for the 2008 season. In 15 first-class matches for the county in 2007, Langer scored 1215 runs at 57.85 and a further 764 in one-day competitions.
Early in the 2008 season
2008 English cricket season
The 2008 season of England's county cricket saw the four regular tournaments played: The LV County Championship , Friends Provident Trophy , NatWest Pro40 League and the Twenty20 Cup...
, Langer and Marcus Trescothick
Marcus Trescothick
Marcus Edward Trescothick MBE is an English cricketer. He plays first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club, and represented England in 76 Test matches and 123 One Day Internationals. A left-handed opening batsman, he made his first-class debut for Somerset in 1993 and quickly established...
put on a 272 second wicket partnership during the second innings against Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
at the County Ground, Taunton; falling just 18 short of the 1924 ground record.
On 23 July 2009, playing his 615th innings, he surpassed Don Bradman as the leading Australian first-class run scorer when he scored his 86th century whilst playing Worcestershire. At the end of the 2009 season, Langer announced that he would not be returning to Taunton in a playing capacity the following season, and retiring from all competitive cricket. He commented in an interview with BBC Somerset that he was in discussions to potentially return at some point to the county in the future in a coaching capacity. Justin Langer played his last home game in English domestic cricket on 27 September 2009, captaining Somerset against Durham in the Nat West Pro40. A game which Somerset lost by two runs. Langer's last act as Somerset captain will be to take the side to compete in the 2009 Twenty20 Champions League.
Post playing career
Langer through to the end of his career remained publicly undecided about what he wanted to do after his retirement. Speculation hence rose in the media with suggestions of a coaching position with Middlesex, and an open invitation to return to Somerset in some capacity. In November 2009, Cricket Australia announced the appointment of Langer as assistant coach of their Test team under national boss Tim NielsenTim Nielsen
Timothy John Nielsen is a former South Australia state cricketer and formerly the head coach of the Australian cricket team. Nielsen played 101 first-class matches for his state between 1990–91 and 1998–99....
, as a batting coach and mentor.
Famous duels and partners
Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar is a former Pakistani right arm fast bowler in cricket, who is regarded as the fastest bowler in the history of cricket. He set an official world record by achieving the fastest delivery, when he clocked in at 161.3 km/h in his bowling speed, twice at a cricket match against...
. They both have great respect for each other as well as fear. Langer once said he has nightmares because of thunderbolt bouncers and good length deliveries, Shoaib answered that he has nightmares of Langer's square cuts, cover drives, pulls and hooks.
During a match in Peshawar in 1998, Langer and Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor (cricketer)
Mark Anthony Taylor, AO is a former Australian cricket player and Test opening batsman from 1988–1999, as well as captain from 1994–1999, succeeding Allan Border...
had a massive partnership. Shoaib was bowling at an extreme pace on a batsman's paradise. In that match Langer played a square drive off Akhtar's bowling that went for four between deep point and deep backward point. Shoaib rates this shot as the best stroke played by a batsman against his bowling.
Makhaya Ntini
Makhaya Ntini
Makhaya Ntini is a former South African cricketer who was the first ethnically black player to play for the South African team. A fast bowler, he tends to bowl from wide of the crease with brisk, although not express, pace...
and Curtly Ambrose
Curtly Ambrose
Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose is a former West Indian cricketer. His skill was as a right-arm fast bowler, especially in partnership with Courtney Walsh...
are among the very few bowlers who have been able to use their pace and accuracy to pressure Langer. In his 100th test, Langer was hit by a devastating bouncer from Ntini (South Africa v Australia, 3rd Test, Johannesburg, 2nd day). He underwent scans in hospital and suffered concussion. Despite the risk of being killed if hit on the head again, Langer padded up to bat in the second innings if it was required of him. Captain Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting , nicknamed Punter, is an Australian cricketer, a former captain of the Australian cricket team between 2004 and 2011 in Test cricket and 2002 and 2011 in One Day International cricket. He is a specialist right-handed batsman, slips and close catching fielder, as well as a very...
wrote in his diary, that because of Langer's intention of defying medical advice, he would have had to declare the run chase and forfeit the match to prevent Langer from facing the bowling. Brett Lee
Brett Lee
Brett Lee is an Australian cricketer.After breaking into the Australian Test team, Lee was recognised as one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket...
scored the winning runs before he was needed, however.
Justin Langer's most notable opening batting partner was Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden
Matthew Lawrence Hayden AM is a former Australian cricketer, and was signed to the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL until the 2010 season. Hayden is a powerful and aggressive left-handed opening batsman, known for his ability to score quickly at both Test and one day levels.Hayden holds the record...
. The opening pair represented Australia in more than 100 Test innings. The pair made 5654 runs while batting together in partnerships, with an average of 51 runs per partnership; only Gordon Greenidge
Gordon Greenidge
Cuthbert Gordon Greenidge MBE is a former member of the West Indies cricket team.Greenidge was an opening batsman for the West Indies. He began his Test career against India at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore in 1974 and continued playing internationally until 1991. He was half of the West...
and Desmond Haynes
Desmond Haynes
Desmond Leo Haynes is a West Indian cricketer and cricket coach. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1991. Haynes formed a formidable partnership with Gordon Greenidge for the West Indies cricket team in Test cricket during 1980s. Between them they managed 16 century stands, four in excess of...
of the West Indies have scored more Test runs as a partnership, with 6482.
Personal life
Justin is an old boy of Perth schools Newman College and Aquinas CollegeAquinas College, Perth
Aquinas College is a Catholic independent, day and boarding school for boys, located in Salter Point, Western Australia. Its sister school is Santa Maria Ladies College located in Attadale...
. The Justin Langer Shield is played between year sevens of Newman and Aquinas.
He is the nephew of Rob Langer
Rob Langer
Robert Samuel Langer is a former cricketer who played for Western Australia in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a left-handed middle order batsman and occasional right-arm medium pace bowler. Langer's first-class career extended from 1973–1974 until 1981–1982...
, a left-handed batsman for Western Australia
Western Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
during the 1970s and 1980s. Langer is married to his high school sweetheart, Sue, and has four daughters. When resident in Somerset, the family stayed in a rented home in Hatch Beauchamp
Hatch Beauchamp
Hatch Beauchamp is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated south east of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 575.-History:...
: Mate, I say this with the utmost affection and respect, but it's like living in the olden days.
He is also a talented martial artist. He has obtained the rank of Shodan-Ho (Probationary 1st Degree Black Belt) in Zen Do Kai
Zen Do Kai
Zen Do Kai is a freestyle martial art system which originated in Australia by Bob Jones and Richard Norton when they left the Japanese Gōjū Kai karate dojo of Tino Ceberano in 1970....
, and although usually a privilege reserved for 2nd Degree Black Belts and above he has received his Bushido Cross. The Bushido Cross exemplifies the connection between Teacher, Student and the Style, and is held in utmost reverence within the upper hierarchy of the Bob Jones Corporation. Due to the traditions of Zen Do Kai
Zen Do Kai
Zen Do Kai is a freestyle martial art system which originated in Australia by Bob Jones and Richard Norton when they left the Japanese Gōjū Kai karate dojo of Tino Ceberano in 1970....
, one who cannot fulfil his training duties before obtaining the rank of full 1st Degree Blackbelt Shodan
Shodan
, literally meaning "beginning degree," is the lowest black belt rank in Japanese martial arts and the game of Go. The 2nd dan is higher than Shodan, but the 1st dan is called Shodan traditionally and the 1st dan is not called "Ichidan"...
, will return to the previous belt (Brown Belt). Justin is dedicated to reclaiming his previous rank and exceeding, currently being trained personally by Kyoshi
Kyoshi
is a form of Japanese poetry using only Chinese characters which was popular around 1770-1800. Kyōshi avoids typical poetic forms, and often includes humorous expressions and puns on alternate readings or meanings of the same characters....
Justin Boylan, a 7th degree in Zen Do Kai
Zen Do Kai
Zen Do Kai is a freestyle martial art system which originated in Australia by Bob Jones and Richard Norton when they left the Japanese Gōjū Kai karate dojo of Tino Ceberano in 1970....
and a well-respected and renowned martial artist, bodyguard and also the winner of a gold medal in Brazil at the World Masters, competing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Langer also stepped in the ring with Vic Darchinyan
Vic Darchinyan
Vakhtang "Vic" Darchinyan is an Armenian professional boxer discovered by HyeFighters. He is a three-division world champion, having won eight titles in three different weight classes. He is a former IBF Flyweight World Champion and a former Undisputed WBA, WBC & IBF Super Flyweight World...
for two rounds.
Langer has written four books. His first book was entitled From Outback to Outfield: A Revealing Diary of Life on the County Cricket Circuit. His second, an autobiography released after his return from rock bottom in 2001, entitled The Power of Passion. He also released a book with Steve Harmison
Steve Harmison
Stephen James Harmison MBE is an English cricketer. Primarily a fast bowler, he represented England in 63 Tests, 58 ODI's, and 2 T20's. He also plays county cricket for Durham....
entitled Ashes Frontline: The Ashes War Diaries of Steve Harmison and Justin Langer about the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia. More recently, he wrote Seeing the Sunrise which has been described as "a handbook for overcoming self-doubt, for revelling in success, for aiming high. It is about mastering physical and mental goals, enjoying victories and fighting adversity."
Melbourne rock band Telemachus Brown wrote a song about Justin Langer entitled (Wrong about) Justin Langer. It was released on their 2006 EP Medicine Songs and was a hit for the band on Melbourne university radio. The song could be a reference to Langer's transformation from being an average Test batsman in his early career to a world-class opener later in his career.
Man of the Match Awards
| Man of the Match Awards – International Cricket | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Langer has won 8 Man of the Match awards in Test cricket. | |||||||||
| No Number A number is a mathematical object used to count and measure. In mathematics, the definition of number has been extended over the years to include such numbers as zero, negative numbers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, and complex numbers.... | 1st Innings An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is... | 2nd Innings An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is... | Test | Opponents | Season | Venue | City | Country | Result |
| 1 | 179 | 52 | Third Test | 1998/99 | Adelaide Oval Adelaide Oval The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide... |
Adelaide Adelaide Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million... |
 Australia |
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| 2 | 51 | 127 | Fourth Test | 1998/99 | Antigua Recreation Ground Antigua Recreation Ground Antigua Recreation Ground is the national stadium of Antigua and Barbuda. It is located in St. John's, on the island of Antigua. The ground has been used by the West Indies cricket team and Antigua and Barbuda national football team... |
St John's St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda St John's is the capital and largest city of Antigua and Barbuda, a country located in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. St John's is located at... |
 Antigua and Barbuda |
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| 3 | 59 | 127 | Second Test | 1999/2000 | Bellerive Oval Bellerive Oval Bellerive Oval, also known as its sponsored name Blundstone Arena, is primarily a cricket and Australian Rules Football ground located in Bellerive, City of Clarence, on the eastern shore of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia... |
Hobart Hobart Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as... |
Australia |
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| 4 | 126 | 30* | Third Test | 2001/02 | Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian... |
Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... |
Australia |
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| 5 | 250 | 24 | Fourth Test | 2002/03 | Melbourne Cricket Ground Melbourne Cricket Ground The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light... |
Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater... |
Australia |
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| 6 | 146 | 78 | First Test | 2002/03 | Bourda Bourda The Bourda is a cricket ground in Georgetown, Guyana, used by the Guyanese cricket team for matches with other nations in the Caribbean as well as some Test matches involving the West Indies. Located in Bourda in Georgetown, Guyana, between Regent Street and North Road, it is home to the Georgetown... |
Georgetown Georgetown, Guyana Georgetown, estimated population 239,227 , is the capital and largest city of Guyana, located in the Demerara-Mahaica region. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast at the mouth of the Demerara River and it was nicknamed 'Garden City of the Caribbean.' Georgetown is located at . The city serves... |
 Guyana |
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| 7 | 215 | 46 | Second Test | 2004/05 | Adelaide Oval Adelaide Oval The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide... |
Adelaide Adelaide Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million... |
Australia |
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| 8 | 191 | 97 | First Test | 2004/05 | WACA Ground WACA Ground The WACA is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. WACA are the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association.... |
Perth Perth, Western Australia Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000.... |
Australia |
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