Justin Langer and Riley Thompson inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame

Former starter and current Australian cricket team coach Justin Langer has been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame along with former fast bowler and captain Riley Thompson. Langer made a significant contribution to the Australian cricket team as a starter. He scored 7,696 runs in his Test career playing 105 games at an average of 45.27. During this, his bat scored 23 centuries and 30 half centuries.

Langer became coach of the Australian national team in May 2018. This was the moment when the Australian team had to face embarrassment in the cricket world due to the handling of the ball in South Africa. He took over as coach as successor to Darren Lehmann.

Under Langer’s coaching, Australia not only won the 2019 Over-50 World Cup, but also managed to win the T20 World Cup which was played in the United Arab Emirates last year. In the recently concluded Ashes series, hosts Australia beat England 4-0.

Todd Greenberg, CEO of the Australian Cricketers Association and member of the Hall of Fame selection panel, spoke about Langer’s playing career and the impact he had on the game beyond his recent achievements. In addition, the selection committee recognized the efforts of Riley Thompson, under whose captaincy Australia ended a 30-year hiatus when they won the Ashes at home in 1985.

Thompson showed a new direction for the Australian women’s cricket team, playing 16 Tests and 23 ODIs in 13 years between 1972 and 1985. Thompson holds the record for taking the first five-wicket haul in the Tests at the age of 39 and 175 days. She is the oldest player to do so in men’s and women’s cricket.