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Justin Langer (born 21 November 1970) is an Australian cricketer, more specificially a left-handed batsman. He is best known for being Matthew Hayden's opening partner in Test matches. Langer is also a solid slip/gully fielder, and was the wicketkeeper for the Australian one-day team.
He can play both aggressively and defensively, but has a reputation for grinding away. However, in a recent Wisden Australia article, Langer's Test strike rate was shown to be superior to that of noted strokemakers Mark Waugh and Damien Martyn. Langer was a number 3 batsman until 2001 when he was dropped after failing to convert a series of starts during Australia's 2-1 loss in India. Shortly after though, he replaced Michael Slater at the top of the order for the final 2001 Ashes series Test where he celebrated his return with a century. He has not looked back since: as an opening batsman, he averages 52.38 and has scored 14 centuries in 44 matches; previously he scored 7 centuries in 41 matches at an average of 39.04.
In November 1999 at Bellerive Oval in Hobart, he shared match-winning 238-run partnership with Adam Gilchrist to rescue Australia from 5/126 chasing a victory target of 369 against Pakistan. The century scored in this innings was scored in a long 388 minutes, an Australian record. Curiously, Langer also holds the Australian record for the fastest Test fifty (in terms of balls faced, 42 balls).
Langer is currently a member of the Australian Test team but not the one-day team, despite being named as the ING Cup's player of the season in 2002/03. Langer is the current captain of the Western Warriors.
External Links
Cricinfo player profile (http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/PLAYERS/AUS/L/LANGER_JL_02002071/)
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