KEY POINTS:
The human punching bag of the Australian cricket team has vowed to be ready if and when England's bowlers pepper him with short deliveries in the Ashes test series.
Opener Justin Langer suffered a painful blow to the elbow on the second delivery of the 2005 Ashes series
courtesy of a brute of a ball from Steve Harmison, and was concussed first ball of his 100th test when he was floored by a Mikhaya Ntini bouncer in Johannesburg in April.
The Ntini blow had Langer wondering what impact an umpteenth hit to the head would have on his health and career, but he is certain he can handle any short stuff England send his way in the first test here starting on Thursday.
"As a 5'8" opening batsman I've faced a lot of short-pitched bowling in my life," said Langer, who turns 36 today.
"Do I expect to get more? I'm not sure actually which way England decide to bowl at me, we'll find out on Thursday morning.
"After I got hit in Johannesburg I wondered whether it would have an impact on me.
"(After) getting hit in the teeth at the cricket academy (as a junior) and losing my teeth, I wondered if that would have an impact but to steal a cliche, I got back on the horse and started practising playing bouncers again just to make sure any doubts were eliminated.
"I've played a lot of cricket since it happened and I feel normal."
Langer has been receiving body blows since his test debut, against the West Indies almost 13 years ago, and underwent thorough medical checks with a neurologist after he was felled against South Africa, before he was cleared to play on.
Langer still gets the odd headache, although it has nothing to do with being hit.
He said the constant speculation over his place in the test team annoyed him, as despite not having reached 50 in his past 10 innings he felt he was still doing a good job seeing off the new ball with long-time partner Matthew Hayden.
"I'm under this perceived pressure at the moment because Phil Jaques is playing well and Chris Rogers is playing well, but invariably it's one of the blokes in the team," he said.
"If it's not me this week it will be Damien (Martyn) next week, if it's not Damien it will be Ricky Ponting.
"It was only 12, 18 months ago that this big mate of mine (Hayden) seemed to be under the pump as well, and he's one of the greatest players of all time."
Langer gave himself three weeks to consider his future after returning from South Africa, but took "about three days" to realise he wanted to keep playing.
Posting his highest first-class score -- 342 for Somerset at county level in England -- only four months ago further convinced the left-hander he could keep going beyond this summer.
"If you had of asked 12 months ago I'd have said I'd probably retire in a year, but now I'm not sure when I'll retire, because if you place those parameters on yourself you can be distracted," he said.
"I'm going to have as much fun as I can over the next six weeks and then see what happens."
Langer said another Ashes battle had been a "huge carrot" for him, and keeps him going with his rigorous training, which can include up to five boxing sessions a week.
- AAP
