After suffering a humiliating defeat within the first two days of the first Test in Perth, former Australian batsman Justin Langer has taken a dig at England’s ‘lack of respect’ for the longest format of the game.
The Ashes began with the first game between the two countries at Optus Stadium in Perth. This match disappointed Test cricket fans who are used to watching long and tough matches.
But unlike any of their dreams, England and Australia competed fiercely and finished the match within the first two days. A record number of 19 wickets fell on the first day, while 13 wickets fell on the second day as well, until the Australian team chased down the target with 8 wickets remaining.
Justin Langer blames England for heartbreak in Perth
Former Australian batsman Justin Langer has accused his Ashes rivals England of disrespecting Test cricket. The former Australian head coach said that the game ended early as England were out twice in the match.
He mentioned the fact that it caused the children who wanted to see their heroes live and who had tickets for the third day, which was Sunday, to be left heartbroken after the match ended on the second day.
“For the England cricket team, it is a disaster,” he wrote in The West Australian. “Being ahead for too many games, they have suffered in this case because of the circumstances, their opponent and their lack of respect for the game of five-day cricket. Missed opportunities keep you up at night.”
‘In the bigger picture, it is not just England who bears the expense of a two-day Test match. What about the child who misses the chance to watch the first day of Test cricket at the Optus Stadium?” he added.
Justin Langer highlights the adverse effects of finishing early
Although former batsman Justin Langer praised Australia’s Travis Head for his fluent and impeccable innings and also congratulated the Australian team for their win, he seemed like a public figure when addressing public issues.
Justin Langer said, “In the last 24 hours, I’ve heard three stories of heartbroken kids who have lost the dream of seeing their heroes survive. The health of the game is inherently linked to kids falling in love with the game. Without it, the game is not sustainable. The two-day Test is three days of opportunities for those kids to fall in love with the game.”
“My friends are in that category,” he wrote. “We have been talking about Day 3 of the Perth Test for six months. They are devastated,” Justin Langer also expressed sympathy for England fans.
Langer said, “The 2,000 casual workers who miss working a shift on Sunday. Let’s not forget them… the majority will be frustrated and miss out on their much-needed wages.
“Their employers at Optus Stadium suffer as much as anyone else. They, Cricket Australia and the broadcasters stand to lose millions of dollars. On the third day, Sunday, CA and the stadium will lose approximately $10 million.” [about £5 million] In ticket and food and beverage sales. That’s a lot of money that goes into grassroots cricket.”
England Lions also faced a crushing defeat in Australia
Apart from the humiliating start to the Ashes campaign, there was a lot of other unpleasant news for the England team. The England Lions team, the junior team that plays in Australia, lost their four-day game at Lilac Hill in Perth by eight wickets.
Set a target of 232 runs, the Australians crossed the target within 45 overs as they played it almost like an ODI game, and Josh Inglis scored an unbeaten 125 off just 107 balls to lead them to victory.
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