Australian cricket has reached its lowest point: Langer

By CricketCountry Staff

 

Assistance coach Justin Langer admitted that Australian cricket has reached rock bottom in all aspect.

 

By CricketCountry Staff

 

Cape Town: Nov 13, 2011

 

Assistance coach Justin Langer admitted that Australian cricket has reached rock bottom in all aspect.

 

Australia were bowled out for 47 in the loss to South Africa in the first Test at Cape Town.

 

Langer said current slump is the worst he’s seen in Australian cricket.

 

“When I made my debut in 1993 I came into a team of very senior players. Allan Border was the captain, Mark Taylor, the Waugh brothers – a very senior team. From ’89 to now we haven’t been in a situation like this,” Langer said.

 

“Sport is cyclical, there’s no doubt about that. Fortunately our cycle went a lot longer than usual.

 

“The reality is, we’ve seen over the past 12 months or a little bit longer, that our cycle has … I don’t know if we’ve reached the bottom of it yet but I haven’t seen it (this low) in my career.”

 

Langer was confident Australia could turn their fortunes in the coming Tests.

 

“I’ve lost a lot of sleep over it. In the past, really good teams would have thought we’re going to do whatever it takes to absolutely bury them. Maybe we got a bit relaxed,” he said.

 

“There’s game awareness. You have to adjust. There are times where, if you played the first morning of a Sydney Test, Steve Waugh would say to Matthew Hayden and myself, ‘I’m going to win the toss and bat here. I know it’s going to be hard but you’re going to have to adjust your game.’

 

“I’m hearing all the cliches come out, flat-track bullies and you can make it when it’s easy.

 

“We’ll cop that on the chin. We have to get better at adjusting to circumstances.

 

“There’s definitely something to that (T20 affecting batting). It’s something we’ve got to be very aware of.

 

“You can’t ever take away that positive intent but you’ve got to make better shot selection.”

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