Langer doubtful for Boxing Day Test

In the cricketing form of his life, Justin Langer may have his golden run paused as he is doubtful for the second Test match against Pakistan, starting on Boxing Day (26th December) at the MCG. Coming off 288 runs in the first Test match, Langer has outscored the entire Pakistan team in the series to date.

It is a lower-back injury, which was sustained during fielding drills, that may keep the left-hander out of the Australian XI. Langer has scored 1426 runs in the calendar year of 2004, averaging a 57.04 and featuring 5 hundreds and 3 fifties. Most recently he has made scores of 215 against New Zealand and then 191 against Pakistan in the first Test.

Fellow leftie Simon Katich has been called up as cover and will open the batting with Hayden should Langer not be fit. Katich averages 41.10 in Test cricket and has been in good touch for Australia lately, having scored 276 runs at 39.42 per innings in India, before being dropped for the following series against New Zealand.

Langer's chance of playing is reportedly "50:50".

Posted by Liam