Justin Langer slams 'unacceptable' two-day Tests after Australia level series against Bangladesh

Former Australia cricketer Justin Langer has harshly criticized the rising trend of short two-day Tests, deeming them "unacceptable" for various reasons. Australia secured a series-levelling victory over Bangladesh with an innings win by 51 runs, ending the two-match series at 1-1. The dominant performance was spearheaded by left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, who took a remarkable 10 wickets in the match.

This swift conclusion marked Australia's third two-day Test in their last seven, prompting Langer to express his disapproval.

Langer, who played 105 Tests for Australia, argued that such quick finishes are detrimental to the sport in various ways. He cited the disappointment experienced by fans and young cricket enthusiasts who miss out on witnessing the game in its traditional form. Moreover, Langer highlighted the economic impact on Cricket Australia, who invest heavily in grassroots cricket. The short duration of Tests also places strain on well-paid professionals, who become weary of the constant focus on pitch conditions and ball movement.

Langer pointed to a decline in basic batting techniques as a contributing factor to the trend of teams being dismissed quickly. He observed that many dismissals in the Bangladesh match were due to poor front foot positioning and improper footwork patterns. As a coach, Langer recently returned from England, where he mentored young cricketers in the Hundred competition, some of whom aspire to become Test players.

He emphasized the importance of teaching fundamental skills to these aspiring players, as their eyes lit up when he shared simple yet crucial aspects of the game. Australia will soon embark on a three-match Test tour to South Africa in October, marking their first red-ball tour to the nation since 2018.