Australia coach Langer wants struggling batsmen to step up

hopes of avoiding defeat with Shakib unbeaten on 44.

However, he edged spinner Zahir Khan off the first ball of the session while attempting a cut shot to allow Afghanistan their big breakthrough.

“I am really disappointed,” Shakib said. “The whole blame goes on my shoulders. “I was very nervous when I came out to bat, and got out the first ball and it was my fault. I should have taken more responsibility and could have avoided the cut shot.

“We had to play only one hour and 10 minutes, and I got out the first ball. So it became harder for the team. The dressing room would have felt more comfortable if I had stayed out.”

Giving his team zero marks out of 100 for the match, Shakib said they had to produce better players if they were to become more consistent. LONDON: Australia coach Justin Langer has urged the struggling batsmen in his team to step up and deliver when the final Ashes Test against England starts at The Oval on Thursday.

Australia took an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-test series following their 185-run win in the fourth Test at Old Trafford and now have the chance to wrap up their first series win in England since 2001, when Steve Waugh’s men won 4-1.

The performances of Steve Smith, with an astronomical average of 134.2, and Marnus Labuschagne, combined with a strong showing from the bowlers, have minimised the impact of failures from the other specialist batsmen during the series.

Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Usman Khawaja, Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and David Warner have all been posted missing, with experienced opening batsman Warner the worst of the lot with an average of 9.87.

While safe in the knowledge that England cannot win the Ashes, Langer said Australia would not be easing off in the fifth Test.

“You’ve still got to perform, as an Australian Test cricketer,” he told reporters.

“Whether or not winning the Ashes will make a difference, time will tell, but you’ve still got to perform whether you are young or a veteran.”

With 671 runs from three Tests, Smith has carried the Australian batting on his shoulders with some support from Labuschagne, who has an average of 58.2 in the series.

Langer called for patience with the young batters in the side.

“He (Smith) has done a lot for Australian cricket for the last few years actually, and so has Dave Warner,” Langer said.

“But we’ve also got to remember, Travis Head is new to Test cricket, Marnus (Labuschagne) is new to Test cricket, Marcus Harris is new to Test cricket, Cameron Bancroft is new to Test cricket.

“You can’t just give them that experience, they’ve got to earn that and we’re very thankful to have Steve batting. We’re lucky to have him but Test cricket takes time. We’ve got to respect that, it takes a lot of time.”

While his batsmen have been misfiring, Langer has no such problems with his fast bowling unit.

Pat Cummins has played all four Tests and is the pick of the fast bowlers with 24 wickets while Josh Hazlewood has taken 18 from three.

The touring side have James Pattinson and Peter Siddle with two Tests each under their belt in the series, and the uncapped Michael Neser is also an option.

“We’ve James Pattinson literally jumping out of his skin to play the next Test,” Langer said. “Peter Siddle, in those first two Tests, was probably the standout bowler, a great professional and a ripping person to have in the team.

“It’ll be fascinating to see how they (Cummins and Hazlewood) pull up ... whatever happens we’re lucky to have a couple of other guys who are

raring to go if we need them.”

It will be best if I didn’t have to lead. I personally believe it will be good for my game. And if I have to continue leading, then obviously there is a lot to discuss about (with the board) SHAKIB AL HASAN

Bangladesh captain