The Somerset Sabres-New South Wales match saw one of the most valiant warriors ever to adorn the game, walk away into the sunset.
“Yes that’s probably my last game,” said Justin Langer during the post match press conference. “There’s certainly some sadness there. I know it’s time, having played for a long while,” said the Somerset skipper.
Fine line
On whether Wesley Durston should have been sent higher up the order, Langer said a game plan and its execution were vital. “Omari Banks hits the spinners as far as anyone I’ve ever seen. That’s why we sent him in. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite come off as we wished it would. That’s the fine line in captaincy. Sometimes you get it right, sometimes you get it wrong,” he reasoned.
Langer made no excuses for defeat, terming the conditions ideal, the rock hard pitch perfect for T20 cricket. “We were up against a world class bowling attack including Brett Lee and Doug Bollinger,” he said.
Dwelling on his association with Somerset, he said his stint at the English county had worked out nicely. “People would have laughed at the idea of Somerset making it to the Champions League, say three years ago,” the ardent Steve Waugh admirer and loyalist said.
“Most successful teams have a lot of unity and that’s a trait Trinidad and Tobago have a lot of,” he said of the Caribbean squad that’s making waves.
A great opportunity
Whether the ongoing event was more hype, Langer said it was fantastic and provided the players a great opportunity. On whether this form of the game would succeed outside India, he said he was sure, citing the example of the IPL-2 in South Africa. “There are lots of Indians all over the world,” he quipped.
Victorious captain Simon Katich described his side’s win as comprehensive, but there were areas that needed improvement. The semifinals would pose a huge challenge. He wouldn’t speculate on whom it would meet in the last four stage but added that it had played the Victoria Bushrangers quite a bit.
Katich was full of praise for his old mate Langer. “I played with him for Western Australia, Australia and against him. I can’t speak enough about him,” he said.
Extremely hard working, he enjoys immense respect, Katich said in tribute.
