Stop Hiding Behind Your Mates

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Langer Watch!

Coward n. person who is easily frightened

Headingley 2001

The Birth of Stop Hiding Behind Your Mates

This is the day Langer announced to the world that he is a humorless coward.

In a recent Times article he has admitted that Headingley 2001 was the lowest point of his international career. He cites the reason that he had been overlooked for the spot in the Aussie team vacated by the injured skipper Steve Waugh for test novice Simon Katich. He subsequently earned a spot in the final test of the series from which he never looked back scoring 5 centuries in his next 7 test.  

His talent as a batsman was never in doubt, but his outburst that day will stay in the memory of all those who witnessed it.
At the Tea interval, a few supporters assembled on the terraces of the rugby ground adjacent to the Headingley ground. In front of them was the rare prospect of a Aussie cricketer down on this luck. 

Langer was lightly jogging around the pitch when a few cries of "Where's yer 9 Iron Bernhard" lead the baiting. Justin looked unfazed to what was  really a mindless comparison to the German golfer.  

"What did the German minister say?"
The batter continued moving on to the slightly more topical subject of Langer's absence from the test team. More than anything this proved the spark to the fireworks that would a few moments later, engulfed the situation.

As fellow Aussie reject Wade Seecombe went about his training acknowledging the sledging as no more than light hearted batter, Langer fumed.

After a few more mention's of his omission from the 4th test line up, throw in  with a couple more references to his German namesake and the usually cool JL flipped.

He approached the group of baiters obviously seething inside.
"Oi you" he growled at no one in particular.
"What's wrong Bernhard" one of the crowd nonchalantly enquired.
"I supposes you think yer clever or something" Bernhard offered to little response.

Then came the immortal line

"Stop hiding behind your mates"

"Pardon" was the rather shocked response.

Then again the immortal line was repeat with some add spice.

"You heard, Stop hiding behind your f**king mates, YOU COWARD"

Langer had officially fallen for the bait, hook, line and sinker.

But he continued on his rant including virtually offering a supporter out.

"Come on mate what's your f**king problem....I can't stand Cowards like you....You and You're country's f**king useless mate!"

Easy Justin.

"I could walk into your sh!ty England team, You Coward!".

And so the legend was laid.

An international cricketer had let a few throwaway comments admittedly intended as bait, get to him to the point where he was against the boundary fence offering out a supporter.

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