Langer utilises his martial grit (12 December 1998)
THE old saying "when the going gets tough, the tough get going" was never more apt than at the Adelaide Oval, as Justin Langer produced a gritty first Test century on home soil
12-Dec-1998
12 December 1998
Langer utilises his martial grit
By Ian Chappell
THE old saying "when the going gets tough, the tough get going"
was never more apt than at the Adelaide Oval, as Justin Langer
produced a gritty first Test century on home soil.
Langer is a tough little customer. He received a late call to
play in his first Test, coincidentally at the Adelaide Oval, to
replace his mate Damien Martyn against the West Indies. Bruised
and battered he was never bowed by Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh
and company and made a fifty on debut as Australia failed by one
run to beat the (then) unbeatable Caribbean marauders.
He was the right man for that occasion, just as he was the ideal
player for a mid-40 degree day when all but the mentally strong
wilted in the Adelaide heat. Langer has a black belt in the
martial arts and he would have been as grateful for the mental
side of his training as the physical, when dehydration and cramps
were vying for portions of his mind that must be solely focused
on the difficult job of batting. However, balancing the mental
and physical is something Langer finds easy on the field, as one
opposing Sheffield Shield bowler will attest.
This bowler became so annoyed with Langer's presence at the
crease, he offered to "see you behind the pavilion after stumps".
"I'd like that," was the only reply Langer needed to subdue the
bullying fast bowler. He also subdued England with subtlety - not
by bulging his muscles and threatening hefty blows, but by
placement, working the ball into gaps and driving himself
relentlessly towards the magical three-figure mark.
When he reached the coveted century, he had just enough energy
left to jump a couple of centimetres off the ground and punch the
air - the only physical threat that this cricketer is ever likely
to offer on the field.
Langer is not the ideal No 3, as he does not dominate an attack
the way a Ricky Ponting could, but you could never question his
courage. He will never take a backward step, unless he is looking
to play one of his favourite horizontal bat shots, and his every
action is aimed at improving the position of his team.
While he may be batting too high in the order, he was in the
right place on a stinking hot day in Adelaide, and Australia can
thank Langer for their position of slight superiority.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)