Langer hails pre-Ashes 'boot camp' by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	JL Langer
Event:	England in Australia 2006/07

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DateLine: 29th August 2006

 

Opening batsman Justin Langer has hailed the Australian cricket team's unorthodox `boot camp' as an uplifting experience.

 

The Australians, preparing themselves for anything England might throw at them in the coming Ashes series, emerged from five days in the bush with a team spirit they believe will make them hard to beat.

 

The country's 25 leading players, backpacks filled with army rations and carrying cans filled with water, slogged it out as part of coach John Buchanan's team-building designs.

 

"I've seen human spirit out there and for me that was very uplifting. It was an awesome learning experience for all of us," Langer said. "We were taken completely out of our comfort zone... little sleep, little food, no mobile phones, no contact with your family. For 10 years I have spoken to my wife and family every single day, no matter where I am in the world, there hasn't been one day I've missed. But I didn't speak to my family for five days while I was in the camp. We didn't have a bed, we didn't have a shower, we didn't have anything," the left-handed batsman added.