Australia seem firmly poised to clinch the first Test at Melbourne against Pakistan. After being bowled out for a meager 179, the visitors find themselves in a deep hole. The Australian bowlers did a great job cleaning up the Pakistanis with effortless ease. Michael Kasporwicz was the star for the Aussies with five scalps while Shane Warne snared three. But the man who set up Australia with a magnificent century in the first innings was the unsung hero of Australian cricket- Justin Langer. The gritty left-hander held the Aussie innings together scoring a mammoth 191 after the top order had disintegrated quickly courtesy Shoaib Akhtar's devastating burst. 

This is not the first time Langer has come to Australia's rescue. Time and again the left-handed opener has brought Australia back on track after the innings seemed in total disarray. Living in the shadow of a great opener like Hayden, Langer has never got enough credit for his performances. But the story of Justin Langer is certainly one that can inspire millions budding cricketers.

After making his debut in the early 90's, Langer was consistently in and out of the Test squad for most part of his career. In a way, he is very much the left handed version of Steve Waugh. Not amongst the most talented bunch of cricketers, Langer has over the years worked on his limitations and today is amongst the most consistent batsman in international cricket having scored runs against each and every opposition.

The big defining moment for Langer came in the '99 Hobart Test when he, in the company of Adam Gilchrist, took Australia to a famous victory successfully chasing a mammoth 369. That series was Langer's final chance to save his position in the team. There were calls for his head from all corners of Australian cricket. But Langer responded with the best possible way scoring a match winning 127 at Hobart and has never looked back since then.

On Thursday, the same duo of Gilchrist and Langer brought Australia out of jail. The Melbourne based cricketer, Langer is not the most elegant batsmen to watch. In fact, he gets himself into all sorts of awkward positions while batting. Neither is he a big superstar like many of his illustrious teammates. But still, nobody can underestimate his contribution to Australian cricket. Along with Hayden, today he forms the most dangerous and successful opening pair in Test cricket. Post 2000, his career has been on an upward trend. His double hundred against India during their home series in the same year was among his most memorable knocks.

Not many would have thought Langer could have progressed so far when he began his career. But defying all odds, the man is today one of the most successful batsman in the longer version of the game- a true indication of the fighting spirit and tenacious ability of Langer. Even when not in the best of nick, Langer has rarely thrown his wicket away and fought every challenge with an in the face attitude.

Now in the twilight of his career, Langer still manages to score big runs and with the same tenacity. Not playing one-day cricket maybe one of his regrets. But with the likes of Gilchrist and Mark Waugh around, not even many exceptionally talented cricketers would have made it to the team. In fact, replacing someone like Michael Slater in Test matches was nothing less than an achievement. Even while playing among greats like Gilchrist, the Waugh Brothers, Warne and McGrath, Langer has managed to hold his own in the team.

With limited ability and gritty application, Langer has today far exceeded the expectations Australian cricket (and maybe even he himself) had from him. Langer would be bracketed alongside players like Rahul Dravid and of course Steve Waugh, who were not expected to scale the heights they eventually did considering their restricted ability- not a bad company to be in!

For all his hardwork, dedication and commitment to Australian cricket, Langer will be remembered as a great servant of Australian cricket once he hangs up his boots in a couple of years time.