LANGER UP FOR CONTEST

JUSTIN Langer says the Australian players have a target on their backs as they prepare for the first international encounter since the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

Tickets for Wednesday’s opening one-day clash with England at The Oval sold out in 20 minutes, record time, as the locals look to pounce on the understrength visiting side.

But Langer was never one to shirk a challenge, first as a batsman in his own right, then as a coach when he picked Western Australian cricket up off the canvas and turned it in to a domestic powerhouse.

He’s galvanised the internationally inexperienced squad he has brought to England to fire Australian cricket’s first shots in the rebuild, and believes the trip to historic World War I sites in France and Belgium last week could also play a crucial role.

Standing in front of the members pavilion at Lord’s, which Langer called the “best place on earth”, the new national coach was adamant his group of “great people” would stare down whatever came their way.

“We had an incredible experience on the Western front together, and if you are ever going to build a team, you have experiences like that as a group, where they realise it’s not just about playing cricket,” Langer said.

“They have been really good. I am sure there are going to be some tight moments, on the field and off the field. But they’ll stick together. We are very happy with the way we are starting to build this team.”

The Aussies are without their first choice pace outfit, but Langer, who knows depth in all areas is key to World Cup success in England next year, has been delighted with what he has seen from the “fill-ins”, particularly ultra-quick Billy Stanlake.

“He’s a very, very bright prospect obviously, and over time he’ll get stronger in his body and get fitter,” Langer said.

“Jhye Richardson is a very good white ball cricketer, he’s a gun fielder and he can bat a bit. The one I am really impressed with is Michael Neser. He reminds me a bit like Andy Bichel and Michael Kasprowicz.”

CAN THE INEXPERIENCED AUSSIES HANDLE THE HEAT OF ENGLAND?

The Oval is a sell-out, it sold out in 20 minutes, despite the match being on a Wednesday. The English fans will come locked and loaded to rip into the inexperienced Aussie line-up fronting up for their country’s first cricket since the South African ball-tampering scandal. The other ace up the locals’ sleeves is that their team is number one in the world, so they can come to the ground confident they won’t be left squirming by a bollocking from the tourists. It will be loud, the banter will be borderline, and while Justin Langer’s men have readied themselves for it, how they really respond could be telling.

Langer says:

“I am sure there are going to be some tight moments, on the field and off the field. We saw that the other night with the boys getting wound up a bit. But they’ll stick together.”