Langer backs ICC over Gambhir

Justin Langer has captained Somerset since retiring from international cricket in 2007

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Former Australia batsman Justin Langer believes the ICC were right to ban Gautam Gambhir for the fourth Test in Nagpur.

The India opener was handed a one-game suspension by match referee Chris Broad for elbowing Australia all-rounder Shane Watson while taking a run during the third Test between the sides in Delhi, which eventually ended in a draw.

That ruled Gambhir, India’s top run-scorer in the series having compiled 463 in six innings that included a double century in Delhi, out of the crucial final Test as the hosts attempt to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

An appeal against the suspension was rejected by the ICC and Langer, a fierce competitor throughout his own career, felt the decision was important to the integrity of the game.

“We’re not playing rugby, we’re not playing Australian Rules, we’re playing cricket,” said the Somerset captain.

“We talk about the spirit of the game. You’ve got to play it tough - that’s how the game is played and that’s one of the beauties of the game in my opinion.

“But when you start running into opposition players or getting physical, you have physical contact, well how can that be good for the game of cricket?

“The ICC appoints the referees to make the decisions and someone’s got to make tough decisions but you’ve got to do that to uphold the spirit of the game.”

The incident, for which Watson was also fined 10 per cent of his match fee, was reportedly the result of Gambhir allowing his emotions to get the better of him following prolonged ‘banter’ between the 27-year-old and Australian players.

Langer, however, insisted that was no excuse for seeking physical retribution.

Aside from Shane Watson, Gautam Gambhir (right) also had an altercation with Simon Katich (left)

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“One of the things about mental toughness is being able to control your emotions and the champions players control their emotions," he added.

“There might have been a bit of niggle but that doesn’t mean you can get physical on the field. Running into an opposition bowler, that’s against the spirit of the game.

“Trust me, the Indians are just as good at the niggle as the Australians are. It’s just part of the game and that’s why it’s such a brilliant game, that’s where you learn mental toughness from.”

With Ricky Ponting’s men currently 1-0 down in the series having lost the second Test in Mohali by 320 runs, some are heralding it as the start of Australian cricket’s decline on the world stage.

Indeed, Sir Ian Botham has already stated his belief England will dominate next summer’s Ashes series but Langer feels reports of Australia’s demise are premature.

“You never write off the Australian cricket team because they’re well led. You know they have a great work ethic, they’re well prepared and there’s a lot of skill and natural talent in Australian cricket,” he stressed.

“What you have to do is keep looking at the big picture, which is always important, and that is beating India in India is the toughest thing you can do in the game.

“When we won there in 2004, it was the first time in 35 years an Australian team had won there. It was like reaching Mount Everest.

“For me it was the absolute pinnacle of my career and that’s above winning Ashes series, above any individual achievement.

“Beating India in India, that was it because we know how hard it is to do that.

“It’s an inexperienced side so I think they’ve actually handled themselves very well to draw the first and third Test, they lost the toss in the second Test and it was hard to come back from that.

“I think they’ve done pretty well. You know people are jumping up and down but we need to keep it in perspective.”