Langer doubt for the Gabba

Australian opener Justin Langer is a doubt for Australia ahead of the first Test match against the West Indies at Brisbane’s Gabba ground on Thursday.

Langer, who has scored over 7,000 Test runs including 22 centuries, was hit on the ribcage by New South Wales quick bowler Gerard Denton whilst playing for Western Australia during an ING Cup game at the St Kilda ground in Melbourne, and scans later revealed a hairline fracture.

The Cricket Australia medical team have allowed Langer to travel with the national squad, and will monitor the left-hander until a final decision is made. The batsman himself was confident of playing, telling AFP that he would be playing on Thursday. “Apparently with a cracked rib the thing you have to get used to is the pain… I’m not going to miss a Test match.”

If Langer is ruled out, his replacement is likely to be either state team-mate Michael Hussey – one of the stars of Australia’s ODI success in England, or Victorian Brad Hodge. The latter move would require a temporary opening solution, namely Simon Katich, Michael Clarke or Hodge himself, which tips the balance towards Hussey.