JUSTIN LANGER RARING TO GET BACK
01 Apr 2008
Justin Langer insists he is "jumping out of his skin" at the prospect of returning to captain Somerset.
The former Australia opener flies to England next Wednesday for his third season with the county and he does not try to disguise the fact that he has one main aim - to win the club's first County Championship.
"I am looking forward to helping Somerset to try to achieve what would be a magnificent, unprecedented achievement - to take the team from the bottom of the standings to the top."
Langer pulled out of the first season of the highly-lucrative Indian Premier League because it clashed with his commitments at Taunton.
In the days before his decision Somerset were concerned that their overseas player would miss the first six weeks of the season.
But the 37-year-old insists there was never any doubt he would honour his Taunton contract when it emerged the two seasons would overlap.
"It didn't take long to think about it," he said. "I was committed to coming back to Somerset.
"I signed for the Indian Premier League but they knew that I was going to be going back to Somerset."
Langer recently announced his retirement from first-class cricket in Australia, but he has hardly had a break since his final state game for Western Australia - when he made an emotional 131 against Tasmania.
Langer is signed up for the IPL for 2009 and 2010 and it would be no surprise if he was to turn his hand to coaching, perhaps with the Australia job as the ultimate target.
Further success with Somerset would embellish his CV but Langer says he has made no grand plans.
"All I know is I am coming over to England next Wednesday and I can't wait. I haven't thought about next year. I might be dead by then," he added.
"We will be looking to do well in every competition.
"The first Championship game is against Lancashire and it will be good to start off well, but we will be looking to win all 16 games so I think every one is significant.
"I am coming back with the aim of being the best player in the competition and to help Somerset achieve something the club has never done."
The former Australia opener flies to England next Wednesday for his third season with the county and he does not try to disguise the fact that he has one main aim - to win the club's first County Championship.
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Speaking from his Western Australia home, Langer said: "Am I looking forward to it? I am jumping out of my skin.
"I am looking forward to helping Somerset to try to achieve what would be a magnificent, unprecedented achievement - to take the team from the bottom of the standings to the top."
Langer pulled out of the first season of the highly-lucrative Indian Premier League because it clashed with his commitments at Taunton.
In the days before his decision Somerset were concerned that their overseas player would miss the first six weeks of the season.
But the 37-year-old insists there was never any doubt he would honour his Taunton contract when it emerged the two seasons would overlap.
"It didn't take long to think about it," he said. "I was committed to coming back to Somerset.
"I signed for the Indian Premier League but they knew that I was going to be going back to Somerset."
Langer recently announced his retirement from first-class cricket in Australia, but he has hardly had a break since his final state game for Western Australia - when he made an emotional 131 against Tasmania.
Langer is signed up for the IPL for 2009 and 2010 and it would be no surprise if he was to turn his hand to coaching, perhaps with the Australia job as the ultimate target.
Further success with Somerset would embellish his CV but Langer says he has made no grand plans.
"All I know is I am coming over to England next Wednesday and I can't wait. I haven't thought about next year. I might be dead by then," he added.
"We will be looking to do well in every competition.
"The first Championship game is against Lancashire and it will be good to start off well, but we will be looking to win all 16 games so I think every one is significant.
"I am coming back with the aim of being the best player in the competition and to help Somerset achieve something the club has never done."
( This articleby Nathan Jones first appeared in the Western Daily Press and the club is grateful for allowing it to be reproduced here.)
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