LANGER ‘LOSING SLEEP’ OVER BATTING WOES
JUSTIN Langer says the sheer magnitude of Australia’s batting crisis is keeping him awake at night.
Langer knows that even if he wins the odd battle and finds quick fixes to make Australia competitive against India this summer, he won’t win the war against chronic collapses unless systematic changes are made to how batsmen are produced and fostered in the national system.
The new Australian coach watched on in dismay at his team’s capitulation against Pakistan, but he was just as horrified by the Sheffield Shield results at the same time, where low scores and collapses defined every match.
Langer has emphasised the importance of character and being a good bloke in his formation of a revamped batting order, but in the wake of Australia’s record loss to Pakistan, he admits that actual technique is far more important than mental toughness.
Australia is being forced to pick batsmen who average in the low 30s to play Test cricket and in many ways can’t be surprised by the outcomes.
One of Australian cricket’s greatest ever fighters built his career on problem solving and says he will burn the candle at both ends to find a solution.
“It keeps us awake at night. I never used to sleep when I first played Test cricket either. I slept better as time went on. Hopefully that’s the same in this case,” Langer said.
“After day two (when Australia was crushed for 145) I was up until about midnight watching batting videos.”