Langer silences critics with half-century

BRISBANE, Nov 23 (Reuters) Justin Langer silenced his critics with a blazing half-century that helped lay the foundations for Australia to dominate the first day of the Ashes against England today.

Langer had not played a test for Australia since he was felled by a bouncer from Makhaya Ntini in South Afria earlier this year that left him badly concussed.

He missed Australia's tour to Bangladesh and was under increasing pressure to hold his place in the team from the in-form New South Wales opener Phil Jaques, who scored back-to-back centuries against England in their first two games.

The Australian selectors gave Langer the benefit of the doubt and the gritty left-hander repaid their faith with a blazing 82 today to get the innings off to a flying start.

Ricky Ponting received most of the plaudits after he ended the day unbeaten on 137 with his team in control at 346 for three but the Australian captain said it was Langer who deserved the credit.

''It was brilliant. It was exactly what we needed, what he eded,'' Ponting told a news conference.

''I know he's been under a little bit of pressure. He said he felt it, and for him to come out and play the way he did today shows the sort of player he is and the sort of character he is.'' TWO BOUNDARIES Langer signalled his intentions from the outset when he smacked two boundaries off Steve Harmison's first over and helped Australia race to 50 in the 11th over.

He reached his own half-century off 66 balls when he scrambled through for a single off Andrew Flintoff and plundered 13 fours before he fell after lunch, driving a delivery from the England skipper straight to Kevin Pietersen at cover-point.

''That's exactly the reason he's in the side. He's a fighter and you know he's going to give 100 per cent every time he walks out to the middle,'' Ponting said.

''Today was a great knock that got the momentum in the test match going our way and it was unfortunate he didn't go on and get a hundred.'' ''His absence from test cricket is longer than most and his last ball he faced was a sickening one.

''He seems for 10 years of his career been trying to prove someone wrong and he's done it yet again today and gave us the exact start we needed in this Ashes series.

''Whenever he feels he needs runs he just gets out there and does it.'' REUTERS SAM VC1605