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| October 12, 2005 | Wednesday | Ramzan 7, 1426 |
World XI poor losers, claims Justin Langer
SYDNEY, Oct 11: Australia opener Justin Langer called the World XI sore losers on Tuesday after their 3-0 one-day series defeat to the world champions. The world combination, who suffered three heavy losses in Melbourne last week, now face Australia in a six-day Test in Sydney this week.
England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and World XI Test skipper Graeme Smith both said their team were at a huge disadvantage because they did not have enough time to form a combination.
“We don’t want to hear any excuses about ‘it is not a team, they have less to play for’, all of that sort of stuff, it is a Test match,” Langer told a news conference.
“They are playing the best team in the world over four years and we are playing against the best players in the world.
“There are no excuses and hopefully the best team will win this Test match and I think the best team won the three one-day games.”
Langer said he was disappointed at the world team’s response and said he hoped the world team would react better if they lost the Test.
“I hope the World XI are not making excuses about not being galvanised. They are the best players in the world, they have adapted to all conditions, I don’t want excuses,” he said.
Langer’s opening partner Matthew Hayden also said the world team should have given more credit to the Australians for the way they played in the one-day series.
“This side is as good a side as we have ever seen perhaps in cricket for me, if we play well then I think we will beat anyone,” Hayden said.
“And I think the last few days have really proven that so I think from our point of view it is just so important that we just play our game.
“We have come off a big series but we have had good strategies against all of these players over a number of years, and I think in a lot of ways if we do put that together, we are unbeatable.”
Smith, the South African captain, maintained there was a difference playing for a composite side, but said his players still realised they had to raise their games.
“The reality is that in a team environment, playing for your country, that is the ultimate, that’s what you dream of playing when you’re young,” he said.
“It is difficult, it is different to come into this environment and find your feet and where you fit in. I don’t think you can compare it to your country.
“But I wouldn’t have come out all this way if I didn’t think I was going to come out to win and if we’re going to come out to win, we’re going to need all individuals to pull their weight.”—Reuters
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