{
  "id": 2797784,
  "title": "‘Unacceptable’: Justin Langer slams two-day Tests after Australia rout Bangladesh",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/unacceptable-justin-langer-slams-two-day-tests-after-australia-rout",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-23T13:42:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/unacceptable-justin-langer-slams-two-134200796.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Australian cricket star Justin Langer has expressed his disdain for the growing trend of Test matches concluding within two days, deeming it \"unacceptable\" following Australia's comprehensive 2-0 series win over Bangladesh in Mackay. The result comes after Australia's nine-wicket defeat in Darwin, leveling the two-match series at 1-1. This marks the third occasion in the last seven Tests where Australia's contest lasted less than two days, sparking concerns about the longevity of the longest format. Langer, a former Australian opener who played 105 Tests for his country, believes the issue extends beyond pitch conditions and blames batting technique. He highlighted the economic impact, stating that ending matches early is detrimental to Cricket Australia's grassroots cricket initiatives. Langer also pointed out that the players are now highly paid professionals, so they are understandably frustrated by the premature ending of matches. He attributed many dismissals to poor basic batting technique, particularly the front foot not going past the front line. Bangladesh's captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, acknowledged his team's lackluster performance but saw value in the experience gained. He emphasized the need to adapt to challenging conditions in Mackay and called for more overseas Tests to help improve the team's skills.",
  "summary": "Justin Langer, the former Australian opener, has voiced strong concerns about the troubling rise of Test matches ending in just two days. He argues that this phenomenon could jeopardise the sport's integrity and financial viability, attributing it to fundamental weaknesses in batting skills and footwork. Bangladesh's captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, acknowledged the tough conditions and emphasised…",
  "key_points": [
    "Justin Langer criticizes two-day Tests as unacceptable",
    "Australia dominated Bangladesh 2-0 in Mackay series",
    "Langer cites poor batting technique as key issue"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Australia vs Bangladesh Test becomes only 28th two-day Test in 2632-match history",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/australia-vs-bangladesh-test-becomes-only-28th-two-day-test-in-2632",
        "published": "2026-08-23T15:21:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}