Langer ruled out of 2nd Test

[Danny]

Opener Langer out of second Windies Test
November 8, 2005 - 6:54PM
SMH

Australian Test opener Justin Langer has been ruled out of the second Test against the West Indies beginning in Hobart next Thursday.

Langer missed Australia's emphatic first Test victory in Brisbane after he sustained a broken rib whilst batting for Western Australia in an ING Cup match.

The lefthander was initially pushing to play the first Test however, he feels he is not yet ready to make himself available for the second Test.

"It is disappointing to miss a Test match but I have to consider the best interests of the team and whilst I continue pushing so hard to be right, I am not allowing myself to heal," said Langer.

"It is different from past injuries in that the bone is actually broken. I need to give it a break and allow it to mend so that I can be ready for the rest of the season."

Langer is currently ranked 14th in the ICC Test rankings with 714 points and a Test average of 45.90.

The team for the second Test will be named later this week.

[Danny]

After the Ashes his future is not certain. In the media this week, Langer has dropped some hints that he will hanging up the boots. Unlikely to be due to his head knock, family and liefstyle are the influential factors in this decision.

[Mike Davis]

He also was quite worried about the amount of time it took to recover from the blow from Ntini. I'm not sure he is keen to cop another hit in the head but the young family and lifestyle are a good reason to give for quitting.

The older he is getting is definetly slowing the reflexes to be ducking those bouncers. He has given Australia good service in his career.