Factbox on Australian batsman Justin Langer after he announced on Monday he was retiring from international cricket following the fifth Ashes Test against England.
Born: 21 Nov. 1970
Left-hand batsman
Teams: Western Australia, Australia
Tests: 104
Debut: v West Indies, Adelaide, 1993
Runs: 7,650, average 45.26, high score 260, 100s 23
298 first-class matches:
Runs: 24,063, average 50.87, high score 342, 100s 74
Originally a number three batsman, Langer made his Test debut in 1993 but played just eight matches over the next four years.
Scored his first century (116) against Pakistan in October 1998 in his 10th Test appearance. Made two more hundreds that season, including 179* v England in Adelaide, and another four the following season.
Made 223 in the final Test against India in Sydney in January 2000, which stood as the highest score by an Australian against India until Ricky Ponting broke the record with 257 in 2003.
Dropped after the team's series loss in India in 2001, Langer earned a reprieve when he replaced Michael Slater as opener for the last Ashes Test in England later that year.
Celebrated his return with an unbeaten 102 at The Oval then made hundreds in four of his next six Tests.
Scored five hundreds in 2004, including a double century against New Zealand in Adelaide, to finish the calendar year with 1,481 runs.
Formed a hugely successful opening partnership with Matthew Hayden that ranks as the best in Australian history, featuring six double-century stands.
Made a career-best 250 against England in the Melbourne Ashes Test in 2002. Scored 105 in the last Ashes Test of 2005 at The Oval.
Became the 10th Australian to play 100 Tests when he turned out against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2006 but lasted only one ball when he was struck on the head and concussed by a bouncer from Makhaya Ntini, raising concerns about his long-term health.
Missed Australia's tour of Bangladesh but spent the off-season playing for Somerset, scoring a career-best first-class score of 342 v Surrey.
Was under pressure to regain his place for the 2006-07 Ashes in Australia but held his spot and rewarded selectors for their faith with 82 and 100 not out in the series opener in Brisbane.
Announced he was quitting Test cricket after the final Ashes Test, joining Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath in retirement.
