Langer to play for Somerset

Justin Langer, the Australia Test opener, is looking forward to a short stint with Somerset where he hopes to work on his game as well as keep a lookout for opponents he might face in this year's Ashes.

Langer, who has not played a competitive match since he was hit on the head by a vicious bouncer from Makhaya Ntini in April, will take the place of fellow Australian Dan Cullen, who is due to play with Australia A in the Top End series.

He was declared fit after passing a series of neurological and vision tests and will be going to Somerset later this month. "I had my eyes checked last night, and I have got almost perfect vision, so there are no more excuses for me with my eyesight," Langer told The Age. "Ironically I had the same tests four years ago and the results were better on Monday than they were [then].

"I am not sure if that means I am getting smarter, or if the concussion was not as bad as we first thought.

"This will be excellent timing to get in amongst the action again and get back in the rhythm of batting," said Langer, who might be opening for Somerset along with his English counterpart, Marcus Trescothick. "He and I will probably be trying to stay out there as long as we can together, not only to make as many runs for Somerset as possible, but also to get a few tips on how each other are doing."

Brian Rose, Somerset's director of cricket, said that the players were delighted about Langer joining them at the county."Justin offers tremendous help both on and off the pitch and will be a great asset to us during the six weeks that he will be with us," he told the county's website. "He will also be an informal coach because he has got a great rapport with the younger players."

His stint with the county is subject to clearance by Michael Brown, the general manager of cricket operations for Cricket Australia, who will consult with medical staff and the Australia coach John Buchanan. "We aim to get him over by the third week in June to play in the pre-Twenty20 games and the C&G match against Ireland in Belfast," Rose said.

Langer has experience of county cricket, having spent three seasons with Middlesex between 1998 and 2000, and Rose was confident the batsman, who turns 36 in November, could sign for an entire season next year. "Justin wants to get back into the English game as well and sees Somerset as the ideal county for him to do that with, so we will be having serious discussions when he arrives," Rose said.

"If he does come back to join us in 2007 we would be delighted because we have a young side. His character and the way he bats would be a huge asset in a first-class season, particularly if he is available for the majority of the time, which seems likely at the moment."

Langer's Australian team, Western Australia has been hit by news the WACA Ground could become a smaller stadium that stages only domestic games if a state government report is carried out. Seven recommendations have been tabled including one for a major venue to accommodate Australian rules, rugby union, football and international cricket. If this project gains approval the WACA could be downscaled to host interstate matches.

"Our first reaction to the prospect of the WACA Ground not being considered as having a role in the staging of major events, cricket or otherwise, in ten years is one of disappointment," Tony Dodemaide, the WACA chief executive, said. "However, by no means is this a fait accompli.

"We aren't resigned to any outcome at this point. We have only just received the document and the association will undertake a detailed analysis of the report to properly assess the implications for the WACA Ground, our members and stakeholders, and, most importantly, the long-term well-being of cricket in this state."