| Event: | England in Australia 2006/07 |
DateLine: 31st May 2006
Australian opening batsman Justin Langer says losing the Ashes to England was good for world cricket. "We were successful for so long. But for us to lose to England showed other countries that the competition was still on," he said while talking to BBCÂ’s Five live sport.
Langer added losing the Ashes was great for world cricket, English cricket and, to a degree, Australian cricket as well. The 35-year-old-southpaw said the Ashes is Australia's top sports event, as important as the football World Cup is to English fans.
Meanwhile Cricket Australia officials confirmed the demand for tickets for the return series starting in Australia in November has been unprecedented. "This is going to be a huge summer, undoubtedly the biggest summer that Australian cricket has ever seen," said Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland.
Langer, who has hinted he may retire after the series, said the Australians were itching to regain the trophy that they lost last September for the first time in 16 years. "Most of the core of the team who lost last time will be together and will be doing everything we can to be ready and to give England as hard a time as possible, as hard as England gave us last summer," he said.
Langer agreed that losing the Ashes was a painful blow and a lot of soul searching has gone in after the bitter defeat. "We are taking the Ashes seriously. It's going to be a massive event, as big as the football World Cup is in your part of the world, and I'd love to be a part of it," Langer said.
Langer also noted that England has lost their edge after the Ashes but had quality players in their side to turn things around and they would be a tough side to beat.
Tickets go on sale to Australian supporters on Thursday and on general sale from June 19.
