Emotional Test for Langer

Justin Langer © Getty Images

Somerset captain Justin Langer has revealed how emotional he became when he watched the start of the first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Gabba earlier this month.

It was Australia's first Test since Langer retired following the fifth Test against England in Sydney in January, having amassed 7,696 runs at an average of 45.27 in 105 Tests.

Langer admitted it was especially hard for him watching his great friend Matthew Hayden, with whom he had formed such a formidable partnership.

"I was quite emotional on the first morning," Langer said

"It was the first time since I'd announced my retirement that I realised that that was it, particularly the moment I saw Haydos (Hayden) and Phil Jaques walk across the white line."

"I felt that was quite an emotional time for me, but life goes on and I'm sure the decision I made was the right one. But having done it for so long - and people know how passionate I was about playing for Australia - that was an emotional first morning."

Langer stands by his decision to announce his retirement with plenty of time between Tests, using it as a reflection period.

"It was good, actually. I remember last year I thought it was quite unfair that there seemed to be some pressure building on me and Haydos - and they were talking about Phil Jaques then and our partnership, and I was playing really well,” he added.

Australia opener Phil Jaques

"So I had to go through all of that and, in a way, I would have had to have gone through it for another 11 months because of my age or whatever.

"So from that point of view, that was nice. I quite enjoyed watching the pressure on Phil Jaques and Chris Rogers (for his opening position). For the first time in 10 years, I haven't had to worry about it.

"It was interesting to see both of them - in periods of county cricket - struggling, and I'm sure it was because they were putting so much pressure on themselves.

“Having lived through that, I was watching with a smile rather than having to worry too much about it."

Langer was impressed with Jaques after the opener scored two centuries in two Tests against the Sri Lankans.

"His insatiable hunger for runs - that's the thing that strikes me most about him," said Langer.

"He's shown it in Test cricket, but whether he plays club cricket or state cricket or county cricket, he makes so many runs. I've only ever watched him from first slip because I've played against him a few times.

"I've only ever seen him from behind the stumps and he looks quite an unorthodox player. But I've watched him quite closely and I think he's actually a lot more orthodox and I love how closely he watches the ball.

"You see the great sportsmen - (Roger) Federer playing tennis - and Phil Jaques watches the ball so closely, and that's the sign of a very good player."