Langer ends state cricket career

It's the season for retirements, it seems, and on the heels of Adam Gilchrist, Shaun Pollock, Stephen Fleming, Mohammad Rafique and Jason Gillespie comes the news that Western Australia's match against Tasmania, which starts on Friday, will be the last domestic first-class game for Justin Langer, the former Australia opening batsman.

The number of Tests Langer played (105) is only marginally beaten by the number of games he has played for Western Australia (116). It is a point often made, but worth repeating, that Australian cricket thrives because of the infrequency of top-level games, with each one mattering more. Of course, Langer will have also missed games because he was on Australia duty and centrally contracted England players barely turn out for their counties these days. But perhaps as Langer starts his final summer with Somerset and considers a list of getting on for 20 first-class games, plus lots of meaningless one-day matches, he will be glad to be nearing the end.

Langer has always struck me as a decent bloke and his quotes today bear that out. "It is a really sad thing for me to say, and probably a tougher decision than retiring from Test cricket, because that is the end of my career," he said. "Physically and technically I could probably keep doing it, but the fire has gone out. The game of cricket has meant absolutely everything to me since I was a little kid... scoring a hundred used to mean I was happy for a couple of weeks. So because it does not mean everything to me, it is time to walk away."

If you excuse a cynical note, it appears that the fire still burns enough for him to sign up to earn £100,000 a year in India in 2009 and 2010.

Comments

[Patrick Kidd]

Hi Rohit, I don't envy or begrudge the IPL players their money. Someone wants to pay them that amount for next to no work, who can blame them for taking it? But it is a shame that the money is being offered for a competition that in my view is silly and meaningless, rather than for the only form of cricket that really matters: international Tests. Oh well.

As for Langer and Somerset, he is acting with great honour. He could have been playing in the IPL this year but put his existing promises to captain Somerset first. I doubt that is for the money but because he is a man of honour. In fact, by making it clear he would not be available this year, he probably cost himself a bit of money in the IPL for 2009-2010. David Hussey, who is still trying to work out whether to break his two-year contract at Notts to play in the IPL for three times the money Langer was offered, perhaps should take note.

[Mrs E.V Edwards]

Hello Dear.

I warned you against sitting your delicate buttocks on cold Rugby terraces with only those modern new fangled underpants for protection instead of thermals. I just knew you'd catch your death - silly boy.

A little birdy told me you haven't been eating well either - despite appearances. Hops and Barley are not vegetables dear!

Will you promise to take notice of me now Patrick?

Please run more streaker articles. That fellow with the muscular posterior reminded me of my darling, late Mr Edwards in his nubile prime. He could barely keep his kit on at a darts comp let alone during championship games at Taunton. I well remember Joel Garner's eyes bulging with envy as Mr Edwards hurdled the stumps at the bowler's end against Leicester in '79.

God rest him.

Grapefruit juice with garlic and Johnnie Walker Blue Label Patrick - lashings of it. Stop feeding your Brussel Sprouts to the dog under the table too.

Do take care of yourself please.

Bye Bye for now Deary.

[Rohit]

Patrick if you don't mind could you explain something to me. You seem to be alluding that Langer and all the other cricketers playing in the IPL are moneygrabbers, carpetbaggers etc, etc. Since Langer has nothing to prove, you say that he is in IPL only for the money. Yet in the same breath you also mention that Langer will be playing for Somerset for the whole of next season. So are you saying that Langer wants to play for Somerset because he has something to prove in the County game!! Certainly not. So then by your arguement he is surely playing for Somerset only for the money! Let me tell you this. Given a choice between playing in front of half a dozen 90 plus pensioners or in front of 50,000 boisterous supporters, most sportsmen would choose the latter. Envious bloggers not withstanding.

[Patrick Kidd]

Not at all, Tim. And he is earning an awful lot less than a lot of other players. Still, £100,000 for a couple of six-week contracts in your retirement isn't bad. Bet he will care more about his performance in the IPL than some bigger earners.

[Tim]

Very true Patrick - although I don't think anyone could blame Langer for playing in the IPL.