Justin Langer reveals how Sir Don Bradman helped him become a 'very successful Test cricketer'

Former Australia opener Justin Langer has revealed the advice he received from the great Sir Donald Bradman in order to tackle medium pacers in Test cricket. Langer bowed out of the game as one of Australia’s most decorated Test cricketers. Currently the head coach of Australia, Langer played international cricket for nearly fifteen years.

He started his Test career as a number three batsman in 1993 before moving to opener in 2001. Overall he played 105 Tests, scoring 7,696 runs including 23 centuries at an average of 45.27. The former left-handed batsman forged a solid opening partnership with fellow great Matthew Hayden in the Australia team that is considered one of the strongest and most decorated sides in the history of the game.

The career-defining advice from Sir Don Bradman

Justin Langer was still trying to find his feet at the highest stage of the game when he decided to seek some advice from Don Bradman, widely regarded as the greatest batsman of all time. It was in August 1994, when the then 23-year-old Langer reached out to Bradman. Langer wrote a letter to Bradman and asked for his help to achieve his goal of becoming ‘a very successful Test cricketer’.

“I feel a little bit shy about writing this letter, but I felt you may be able to offer me a little advice which may help me achieve my goal of becoming a very successful Test cricketer,” he wrote in his letter to Bradman, as cricket.com.au reported.

Langer had approached Bradman just a few days prior to the tour of Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He wanted some advice on how to tackle medium pacers. He told Bradman how he was having difficulty in facing medium pacers as compared to spinners and genuine pacers. Bradman did respond to the letter and was delighted that Langer sought his help.

“Thank you for your letter. You flatter me by suggesting that an old octogenarian like my can help you with your cricket,” wrote Bradman.

“You mention specially the medium pacers and the slight problem you have with them. Against them, I always started to move just before the delivery by going slightly back and across. In fact, the main basis of my batting was back play because I think this gives the batsman greater flexibility in many shots and taking the initiative than the forward player who becomes stuck in a grove,” Bradman added.