"This is a disaster": Justin Langer accuses England of disrespecting Test cricket
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Former Australian batter Justin Langer has taken a jibe at England's 'lack of respect' for the longest format of the game, after they faced a humiliating defeat within just the first two days of the First Test in Perth.
The Ashes began with the First game between the two nations at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The match disappointed Test cricket fans who are accustomed to witnessing long and intense contests.
But unlike any of their dreams, England and Australia contested fiercely and finished the game within the first two days of the match. A record number of 19 wickets fell on the first day itself, while 13 wickets fell on Day 2 as well, until the Aussies chased the target with 8 wickets remaining.
Justin Langer blames England for causing heartbreak in Perth
Former Australian batter Justin Langer has accused their Ashes opponents, England, of disrespecting Test cricket. The former Australian head coach said that the early finish to the game was the result of England being dismissed twice in the match.
He referred to the fact that this left children who wanted to witness their heroes live and had tickets for the third day, which was a Sunday, heartbroken after the match was over on Day 2.
"For the England cricket team, this is a disaster," he wrote in the West Australian. "Having been in front for a lot of the game, their lack of respect for the conditions, their opponent and the game of five-day cricket has cost them in this instance. Missed opportunities tend to keep you awake at night."
‘In the bigger picture, it is not only England that bears the cost of a two-day Test match. What about the kid who misses the opportunity to watch their first day of Test cricket at Optus Stadium?" he added.
Justin Langer highlighted the adverse effect of an early finish
Though the former batter Justin Langer praised Australia's Travis Head for his fluent and flawless innings and congratulated the Australian team for their victory as well, he seemed like a public figure while addressing public woes.
"In the last 24 hours, I have heard three stories of heartbroken kids, robbed of the dream of seeing their heroes live. The health of the game is inherently linked with kids falling in love with it. Without that, the game is unsustainable. Two-day Tests are three days of missed opportunities for those kids to fall in love with the game," Justin Langer.
"Friends of mine are in that category,’ he wrote. ‘We have been talking about day three of the Perth Test for six months. They are shattered," Justin Langer also sympathized with the England fans.
Langer added, "The 2,000 casual staff who miss out on working a shift on Sunday. Let’s not forget them… most will be disappointed and missing out on their much-needed wages.
"Their employers at Optus Stadium bear the brunt as much as anyone. They, Cricket Australia and the broadcasters lose millions of dollars. Day three, a Sunday, will cost CA and the stadium around $10 million [about £5 million] in ticket and food and beverage sales. That’s a lot of money that goes back into grassroots cricket."
The England Lions also faced a crushing defeat in Australia
Other than the humiliating start to their Ashes campaign, the England team also had several other pieces of unpleasant news. The England Lions team, that is the junior side playing in Australia, also slumped to an eight-wicket victory in their four-day game at Lilac Hill in Perth.
With a target set on 232, Australians hurried past the target within 45 overs, as they almost played it like an ODI game, and Josh Inglis led them to victory with an unbeaten 125 off just 107 balls.
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Australia National Cricket Team England National Cricket Team England vs Australia Australia vs England The Ashes Justin Langer
