Those steady one-liners were offered with oratory's version of a high front elbow, as if the former opener was building an innings against the media attack.
However, he wafted at to one verbal half-volley which might raise concerns in the CA pavilion.
Langer described an incident in his career where sledging got personal and "crossed the line".
Whoa, Justin. Please be careful invoking "the line" to demarcate appropriate and inappropriate on-field chat.
We've heard too much about this nebulous, cliched stripe which conveniently comes into play like a wobbly popping crease every time banter turns sour on a cricket field.
Langer gave the example of Ramnaresh Sarwan insulting Glenn McGrath's cancer-stricken wife in the 2003 test at St John's in Antigua.
"That was a very sensitive time for Pigeon [McGrath]," Langer said. "But it [Sarwan's sledge] probably crossed the line and there were consequences for that."
Certainly Sarwan was out of order during what must have been a difficult period for McGrath, whose wife Jane died five years later.
However, McGrath had instigated the incident, didn't like the response, then reacted.
Langer's team can't have it both ways. They're on notice in the eyes of the world game.
"We've always played hard," Langer said as insurance.
"I think some of the best banter's among each other to try to get the opposition thinking about other things, but that mental toughness is about being 100 percent focused on the next ball.
"We all know what the accepted behaviours are. There's a difference between competitiveness and aggression and we've got to be careful with that."
No doubt about that, Justin, given the behaviour of some Australian alpha-male bullies in recent years.
Langer incites "banter", as he prefers to call it, at his peril, especially among a group who have proven they struggle to recognise when it morphs into abuse.
What he also needs to remember in his new role is if you sledge, forget about dictating the position of the line.
