Lion-hearted opening batsman Justin Langer has become the fourth Australian veteran in as many weeks to announce his retirement from international cricket, joining bowling greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath in hanging up the boots after the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney.
The 36-year-old's announcement on Monday ended days of speculation, and also follows that of fellow West Australian Damien Martyn, who quit the game suddenly after the second Test.
"There hasn't been a waking moment for the last 20 years where I haven't thought about playing Test cricket and wearing the baggy green cap, so this is a tough moment," Langer said.
"There hasn't been a moment where Test cricket hasn't been on my mind."
Langer, who has played 104 Test matches since making his debut in 1993, moulded himself into one of the game's most effective stroke-players, racking up more Test hundreds (23) than Mark Waugh, Bill Lawry and Ian Chappell.
Together with fellow left-hander Matthew Hayden, the pair developed into cricket's second-greatest opening partnership of all-time behind West Indies legends Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge.
"When I told my wife the other day [that I was retiring] she said 'well the upside is maybe you won't be so grumpy'," Langer laughed.
"The thing is when you focus on something as I have like playing cricket for Australia for so long not much distracts you and therefore you can get grumpy if things aren't going your way and maybe my family has suffered from that but now I can give them the attention they deserve."
Langer, who scored 7650 Test runs at an average of 45.26, played just eight one-day internationals.
His 100th Test against South Africa in Johannesburg will be remembered for all the wrong reasons after a bouncer from paceman Makhaya Ntini crashed into his helmet, causing severe concussion and forcing him to miss the subsequent tour of Bangladesh.
It is believed Langer was almost ready to quit after the South African tour, but the motivation of trying to reclaim the Ashes urn that Australia lost in 2005 was too great.
Langer will continue to play for his native WA and also county cricket in England.
Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland paid tribute to Langer's career during which he made a significant contribution in keeping Australia at the forefront of world cricket.
"Justin Langer has walked as an equal with great players and that will leave memories that last even longer than his impressive playing statistics," Sutherland said.
"The pride and dignity with which he represented his country, and the calm authority he has exercised within a team of great, once-in-a-lifetime champions is something cricket fans will remember most."
