Xtra Time Web Desk: Australia Head Coach Justin Langer is happy to see the Indians feeling the stress following the 36 run scar at the Adelaide Oval. Langer himself was in stress ahead of the start of test series with injuries to several key players. The former Australian opener was asked what he would have done had he been in the position of Team India Head Coach Ravi Shastri going into the Boxing Day Test starting December 26. “None of my business. I have had enough with stresses ….I empathise with the opposition and I know what it feels like. If India are feeling any stress, I am glad they are and not us over the Christmas weekend,” Langer said during a virtual media conference on Thursday.
He did admit that the absence of Kohli (paternity leave) and Mohammed Shami (wrist fracture) would be an advantage for his team but the focus firmly remains on its own planning.
“Of course, whatever sport you play, if you take out two of your stars, Virat Kohli is an all-time great player I think and Shami is a real glue for the team because he is so miserly and skilful. It surely gives us some advantage,” he said.
“We need to start strongly on the first day and build pressure on Rahane as he is the new captain of India for this series. So the processes don’t change. Whenever you take out best players of any cricket team, it weakens them and that’s the reality,” he said.