Interview: Australia's Justin Langer

Langer has played in five Ashes series for Australia

Many contributors choose to have such columns ghosted by journalists, but every single word which has appeared under Langer's name has been written by him.

Even in the depths of despair over his own lack of form, he still filed a piece every day during the 2001 tour to England.

And last year, despite the emotion-sapping saga of the Ashes series, he still found time to write a column at the end of each day's play during the five Tests.

He has decided that the Sydney Test against England will be his last after a Test career which stretches back over 13 years and more than 100 matches.

Here we look back at some of the best of Justin Langer.

"Playing with him and watching the poetry of his bowling has been without doubt one of the privileges of my career"

"In 102 Tests, I can't remember a more brilliant victory"

"Australia and South Africa are two proud and talented teams"

"I'd rather watch Lara from a chair against different opposition"

"My rib feels like it is covered in barbed wire and every time I move the pain is intense"

"It was brilliant, old fashioned, hard, tough cricket that was as enjoyable as it was taxing"

"I can't remember celebrating a draw before in my career"

"Days like this remain etched in the mind for a lifetime"

"Besides winning an Ashes series, this is as good as it gets for an Australian Test cricketer"

"Stephen will be missed in so many ways but the sun will come up tomorrow and the game stops for no-one"

"The innovation of World Series cricket added a new dimension to the backyard Test matches that dominated every waking moment in the Langer household"

"Rewards taste so much sweeter when you have tasted the bitter feeling of disappointment"

"Today, I have found some rock of my own...it is called rock bottom"

"It was like being on a surfboard at the base of a tidal wave"

"When I finally plucked up the courage to write I received a reply within two days. His promptness amazed me but not as much as the content of his reply"