NLWL begs to be sacked as Oz batting coach

FORMER Test opener Justin Langer has hit out at critics calling for Phil Hughes' axing, rating the 23-year-old a superior player to him at the same age.

Langer said Australian cricket would be hitting the panic button if the NSW left-hander was cut so early in his career. After 14 Tests, Hughes has compiled 932 runs, and three centuries, at an average of 37.28.

At the same stage, Langer had fewer runs (818), fewer tons (two) and an inferior average (37.18).

Despite his uninspiring start, Langer went on to become one of Australia's finest openers, amassing 7696 from 105 Tests at 45.27.

Now Australia's batting coach, Langer has played a key mentoring role with Hughes in the past 18 months and said talk of him being dropped was nonsense.

"We should keep sticking with him," Langer said.

"If we're going to judge him on (the first Test, where Hughes was twice dismissed for nine) ... he's grinding it out and working hard.

"His record is impeccable. As a left-hand opening batsman, when I was his age, statistically and everything he was a better player than me by a mile.

"He has an awesome work ethic, he has an awesome hunger, (but) he's got some areas to get better."

Statistically, Hughes has outperformed some of Australia's finest batsmen at the same stages in their careers.

Langer also backed Shane Watson to remain at the top of the order, despite the all-rounder admitting he had struggled with the mental demands of bowling and opening the batting.

"I'm sure there'll be discussion (about dropping Watson down the order), but I'll also say that if he was in good form, we wouldn't even be talking about it," he said.

"He has done a great job opening the batting. He's got a magnificent technique.

"He's like Matty Hayden or Graeme Smith, he's got a big imposing figure and he can put the pressure back on (the opposition).

"In my view we wouldn't be having this discussion if he was scoring runs. Not many allrounders in the world have done it."

Justin

We hear your cries for help and are willing to let you go ...

btw JL if you remember about this time in your test career you were dropped ...went back to the SS and made a shitload of runs (as well as making a few changes to your technique) ...and that's what made you the player you were at the end of your career ...Hughes could benefit from that advice rather just continual tyre pumping

I hope he is still nuggety at least

The thing that farked Hughes was that bullsh!t story on 60 minutes prior to the Ashes - his head grew about 14 inchs during the interview and his batting has never recovered since!

Langer, the man who finds a way to talk everyone up (these are not exact quotes)-

"He's awesome up the top of the order. Moving him down would be an unthinkable, World ending event."

"He's absolutely incredible at number three. Moving him up the order would be absolutely a crazy, crazy strategy."

"He's just a fantastic, fantastic player. He really could be anything in the game. An absolutely sensational talent. Wow, I mean, some of the things he can do....I'm gonna have a wank, actually."

"Well obviously Bangladesh have some absolutely amazing, amazing cricketers. Some truly World class players. Their record isn't great, but it's obvious how talented they are. Just amazing."


Best not to take the guy seriously, and instead encourage him to increase his meds.

And btw, how many times have Aus been bowled out for under 100 on Langer's watch?

During the debacle of a 1st Test there was a lot of man love between Fuse and NLWL, with gay boy mason/gang fist-shakes left, right and centre after Pup brought up his ton (or was it 150?). They have obviously become close mates as Langer tries to iron out the boofhead's many kinks.

I actually think that if Hughes is to ever have a chance of consistent success, he should bat in the middle order.

Henry wrote:I actually think that if Hughes is to ever have a chance of consistent success, he should bat in the middle order.

...of a park cricket team