Countdown to The Ashes: 14 days to go

Langer rejects aged argument hampering Australia top order

Justin Langer has joined the row between Damien Martyn and Dennis Lillee over the age of some of Australia's players going into the Ashes series.

Lillee, once the scourge of England, now chairman of the Western Australian Cricket Association, had said the Aussies' top order was vulnerable because of their advancing years.

But Langer said yesterday: "For four years we were written off as too old and we have kept proving what a great side the Australian team is. But if people keep saying it, eventually they will get it right because eventually we will have to retire. They haven't got it right for four or five years, though. I would walk on to the cricket field with [the 37-year-old] Glenn McGrath any day of the week."