Langer passes Bradman

It may have taken him nearly twice as long as the Don, but Justin Langer has become the highest Australian run scorer in the history of the game. Yesterday morning at New Road – the venue of Bradman's habitual Ashes tour opening century – the Somerset captain drove Worcestershire's Matt Mason for four to overtake Bradman's total of 28,067 first-class runs. It was Langer's 615th innings; Bradman required 338.

"I am very proud," Langer said. "Bradman is in a league of his own but to achieve this is very special. It means I have been around a long while, but as John Buchanan always said, you only judge champions on longevity and not on flash-in-the-pan brilliance."

Langer is in his 18th year in first-class cricket since making his debut for Western Australia. He played 105 Tests, establishing himself of one of the most effective openers of his generation and forming a formidable partnership at the top of Australia's order with Matthew Hayden.

"It is fitting that a man of Justin's calibre takes this honour because when you break a record of one of the greatest it has to be by a person of quality," said Hayden.