• Home
  • Cricket News
  • One Of The Best Things Ive Ever Seen Justin Langer Backs Warner Amid Spirit Of The Game Debate

"One of the best things I've ever seen," Justin Langer backs Warner amid 'spirit of the game' debate

Australia’s head coach Justin Langer has thrown his weight behind David Warner, who has been in the eye of the storm for hitting a big six off Mohammad Hafeez in the semi-final against Pakistan. He had bowled a rank long hop that bounced twice before the batsman stepped out of the pitch to reach the ball to hit it for a six.

Many former cricketers have taken a dig at Warner and other former Australian players calling the shot “unsportsmanlike” and against the spirit of the game but for Langer, the shot was “one of the best things” he has ever seen in the game of cricket. He said that no cricketer can have the instinct to hit such balls and the ability to hit them for such a long distance.

He also said that the shot was well within Warner’s right as a batsman on the crease and people questioning his sportsmanship should also see him walking when he felt he edged the ball to the wicketkeeper to put things in perspective.

"Oh my gosh, it's one of the best things I've ever seen in the game of cricket," the enthusiastic Australia coach said. “I can't believe anyone would have the instincts to do that - it was unbelievable. In fact, most people probably would've been not sure what to do ... it was a no-ball and to have the talent and ability to hit it for six - unbelievable."

"Anyone who thinks (that six was) unsportsmanlike, that (walking) probably evens it up a bit.”

Australia defeated Pakistan in the second semi-final of the tournament and Warner played a key role in giving them early momentum with the bat while Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis used all their muscle power to lead them into the final against New Zealand.

Discover more
Top Stories
news

Ravi Shastri doesn't rule out Virat Kohli giving up ODI captaincy to 'focus' on batting

Virat Kohli has already relinquished the captaincy of the T20 format of the game both at India and the Indian Premier League level but his longtime partner Ravi Shastri, who has just finished his five-year-long tenure as India’s head coach and worked closely with Kohli, believes there can be many more resignations from his side. There are many media reports claiming that Kohli will be asked to give up on ODI captaincy as well to “focus” more on batting and while he has not hinted anything of that sort, Shastri’s views can fuel the speculation even further. Shastri said that it can’t be ruled out that Kohli will come forward and say that he doesn’t want to take the extra pressure of leading an ODI side and the development can occur in near future as well. However, he strongly believes that Kohli will not give up Test captaincy unless he has to go through serious “mental fatigue”. “In red-ball cricket, India has been the No.1 team in the world for the last 5 years under Virat Kohli. So unless he wants to give up or if he is mentally fatigued and says he wants to focus on his batting - which can happen in the near future, don't think it will happen immediately - it can happen,” Ravi Shastri told India Today. “The same might happen with the ODI. He might say he wants to focus just on Test captaincy. It is his mind and body that will make that decision. He won't be the first, there are many players in the past who have had very successful tenures and captains and then given it up to focus on batting.” India were knocked out of the T20 World Cup which was Kohli and Shastri’s last assignment as the leadership group of the Indian T20 side and since then there are speculations that Rohit Sharma will be awarded with full-time responsibility of both the T20 and ODI sides.

news

Joe Root have ‘all options on the table’ as Stokes, Broad look ‘promising’ for first Ashes Test

England skipper Joe Root has said that one of the most discussed names in the squad for the upcoming Ashes series, Ben Stokes would be fit for the first Test of the series starting December 08 at Gabba in Brisbane. Root said Stokes has looked “promising” and he should be fit and raring to go for the first Test that will set the tone for a highly-anticipated Ashes series. "I really hope so," Root responded to the question on Stokes’ availability for the first Test. "It's been remarkable to see how far he's come. It looks very promising. He's been brilliant. We've seen him at training, having him back amongst things is always great, so it's really nice to have him back involved." Notably, Stokes was not part of the initial squad for the series and he was added into it after he declared his readiness to come back from an “indefinite break” from the game due to a complicated finger injury and mental health issues. Joe Root also addressed the concerns over Stuart Broad’s fitness. Who missed the last three Tests of the series against India and would have missed the final one as well had Covid-19 not disrupted the series. He said that Broad is bowling in the nets and is slowly getting on to the path of return towards full fitness. He ruled that bowlers are pulling up nicely and all should be ready for the first Test to give him “all options on the table”. "He bowled today in the nets again, very light workloads at the minute, but it's good to see him back in and around things, and being able to get into it," Root said. "It's about getting those workloads back up again, with all the bowlers really, making sure that they are absolutely ready to go for that first Test match. We've got all options on the table." It will be Joe Root’s second chance at winning the Ashes series in Australia as the captain of the England side. He had also led the side in the 2017-18 series but Australia were too strong for them and they ended up losing the series 3-1.