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| Langer to quit after Sydney Test | Langer to quit after Sydney Test |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Batsman Justin Langer has become the latest Australian to announce his retirement from Test cricket. | 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. | The fifth Ashes Test, which starts at 2330 GMT, will now be the last for Langer, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. |
| He made his debut against West Indies in 1993 and has scored 7,650 runs in 104 matches at an average of 45.26. | He made his debut against West Indies in 1993 and has scored 7,650 runs in 104 matches at an average of 45.26. |
| "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. | "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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | 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. |
| Justin Langer has walked as an equal with great players and that will leave memories that last even longer than his impressive playing statistics Cricket Australia's James Sutherland | Justin Langer has walked as an equal with great players and that will leave memories that last even longer than his impressive playing statistics Cricket Australia's James Sutherland |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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). | 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. | 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. |
| Hayden and Langer average 51.62 as an opening partnership | Hayden and Langer average 51.62 as an opening partnership |
| 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. | 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. | "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. | "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. | 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. | "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. | "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. | "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. | 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. | "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. | "It will be a long while before we see Australian cricketers of this ilk playing together again," he added. |
| 606 DEBATE: Your thoughts on Langer's remarkable career |