Former Australian opener Justin Langer, who now plays first class cricket for Sussex, has described Twenty20 cricket as a huge emotional, but brilliant exercise.
“It’s a massive emotional rollercoaster, Twenty20 cricket, and that was highlighted again here. It’s been amazing. Honestly, it’s a great thing. Brilliant. Look at the people jumping around, it’s brilliant. I’m rooted, I’ve got to say,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Langer as saying on the sidelines of the Deccan Chargers Vs Trinidad and Tobago Champions League clash.
For three hours, Langer hardly moved, admitting afterwards he had not “watched that much cricket for ages”. He had good reason to be on edge: a Chargers win would have sent him into retirement, effective immediately.
While the Sabres’ last-ball victory over Deccan last weekend was dramatic, Langer said watching Wednesday night’s match - the last of round one in the Champions League Twenty20 - was harder to cope with.
The Champions League is a fitting end to Langer’s four-year stint at the English county side, which he’s captained for three years.
“I’ve had a great time at Somerset. We’ve gone from bottom of everything in the second division three years ago, now we’re playing on the big stage. So, it does make you proud, definitely,” he said.
The left-hander was never favoured by Australia in the shorter form of the game - he played only eight one-day internationals - yet in Twenty20 he has proved to be a very effective opener, averaging 29.35 at a strike-rate of 138.8. Langer said he had become a huge fan of Twenty20 since his international retirement.
Somerset’s progression means they’ll face South Africa’s Diamond Eagles and the formidable NSW side on Sunday. It also means the team’s prize money jumps from 100,000 dollars to 200,000 dollars - and will soar to 500,000 dollars for a semi-final berth. The financial implications of this tournament are, Langer admitted, enormous for “all of us”.
