Cricket Australia today
described Justin
Langer, who has announced that the 3 mobile Sydney
Test will be his last, as a player who had epitomised
what it meant to wear the baggy green cap.
"Justin recently became
the first West Australian and only the 10th Australian
to play 100 Tests for Australia," said Cricket
Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland.
"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.
"Justin Langer has
walked as an equal with great players and that will
leave memories that last even longer than his impressive
playing statistics."
Those statistics include
7650 Test runs at 45.27 going into the Sydney Test and
a remarkably productive partnership opening for Australia
with fellow left-hander Matthew Hayden. That partnership
has become one of the great opening combinations in
Test cricket history.
Mr Sutherland said Langer's
decision to make the 3 mobile Sydney Test his last meant
that Sydney's cricket fans would have the rare opportunity
of farewelling three great champions in Langer, Shane
Warne and Glenn McGrath.
"This outstanding
trio will have played 374 Tests between them by the
end of this game and I call on everybody in Sydney who
can get there to give them the rousing farewell they
so richly deserve," he said.
"Do whatever you can
to get there as it will be a long while before we see
Australian cricketers of this ilk playing together again."
However, Mr Sutherland
also said that the departure of these champions also
highlighted opportunity that exists for emerging Australian
talent.
It also emphasised the
importance of the work that Cricket Australia and the
state and territory cricket associations do developing
cricket at the grass roots and interstate levels to
ensure there is depth of talent supporting the national
team. Langer
Averages Here |
