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Battered helmet reminds Langer of his Test debut

Justin Langer took a battering in his Test debut. Four years later, he returns to the scene to face the same opponent. MARK RAY reports.

FOR Justin Langer this Test match revives some memories he prefers to forget. Yet in many ways he should be grateful he remembers anything at all from his first Test match, in Adelaide against the West Indies four years ago this weekend.

Langer's first Test innings began on the Saturday evening and for the first time in that series Ian Bishop found his rhythm.

Bishop bowled the fastest spell of the summer, faster than anything seen this season and probably faster than any spell bowled in Australia since Patrick Patterson's brutal spell on the last day of the Melbourne Test in 1988-89.

Bishop looked threatening even from the distant and shoebox-sized eyrie that passes for a press box in Adelaide. From 20 metres or so, he must have looked frightening.

It is history now that Langer could not avoid one of Bishop's deliveries and was hit on the helmet with such force he reckoned he saw three Bishops coming at him next ball. This was a matter of bowler selection, not shot selection.

This week Langer could not avoid media questions about that day four years ago. His response: ``Don't put those negative thoughts in my head.''

No doubt Langer would have preferred to chat about his half-century in the second innings - a courageous effort that almost took Australia to a historic win in that match and the series.

Although Langer did not want to dwell on that confrontation with Bishop, he saw the similarities with this fourth Test match: a series in the balance and the West Indies coming back after a poor start.

``Yes, well last time was a big game,'' he said at practice, ``and this time I think it's a big game as well.''

Langer is a quiet, thoughtful bloke, with a sense of humor. When the talk turned to Bishop and fierce thumps on helmets, he laughed and admitted he had kept the helmet as a souvenir. ``In fact, I've made a few dollars out of it at sporties (sportsman's nights) over the years,'' he said.

After two failures in his return to Test cricket - in the Boxing Day match in Melbourne - after a lengthy absence from the Australian team, Langer faces significant challenges in this match.

First, to erase the traumas of that one-run loss here four years ago and so, for the first time in three series, to be part of the playing eleven that wins a series against the West Indies.

Langer has a healthy interest in the history of the game and would realise that if Australia wins this match it will be its first home-series victory against the West Indies for 21 years.

Second, Langer needs to re-establish his reputation as a Test batsman. If he does, he might settle himself at the difficult but prestigious No.3 spot in the batting order.

This season Langer has added an element of aggression to his batting for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield.

``I think I've shown I can bat well in Shield cricket and if a bit of luck goes my way I'll be successful at this level as well,'' he said.

Yesterday, his aggression brought about his demise, his slash at a wide Cameron Cuffy delivery providing a catch for wicketkeeper Junior Murray. It was 5.18pm, he had pushed his way to 19 and would be berating himself for an opportunity missed.

But Langer seems a more settled character than the intense young player of four years ago. His personal life is happy, he has some work outside cricket to relieve the tensions and, now, a second chance at Test cricket.

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