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SYDNEY - Australian opener Justin Langer is to retire from test cricket after the fifth Ashes match against England at the SCG, which starts tomorrow.
Langer, 36, said today it had been a tough decision to retire.
"There hasn't been a waking moment for the last 20 years where I haven't thought about playing test cricket and wearing the baggy green cap, so this is a tough moment," he said.
"There hasn't been a moment where test cricket hasn't been on my mind."
Langer will start his 105th and final test having scored 7650 runs at an average of 45.27, including 23 centuries and 14-century partnerships with opening partner Matthew Hayden.
The West Australian is the fourth member of the Australian side to have announced his retirement in a tumultuous summer for the national side, following Damien Martyn, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.
Warne and McGrath will also play their final test matches this week.
Langer made his test debut against the West Indies in Adelaide in 1993, but did not cement his place in the side until the summer of 2001-02, when he and Hayden formed one of cricket's most successful partnerships.
The pair first opened together in the final test of the 2001 Ashes series.
Langer said his greatest thrill he had during his career was playing with such great players.
"For me to have it's been a privilege with Shane and Glenn and Adam Gilchrist, the greatest wicketkeeper of all time, and Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting, who is the greatest batsman this country has produced after Bradman," he said.
- AAP
