Langer overcome with emotion on test farewell

SYDNEY, Jan 5 (Reuters) Justin Langer was so overcome with emotion in his test farewell today that he spurned the chance to hit the winning runs that sealed Australia's first Ashes sweep in 86 years.

Langer was batting at the Sydney Cricket Ground with his fellow opener Matthew Hayden with Australia just seven runs from victory with 10 wickets in hand.

Unbeaten on 20 and batting beautifully, Langer's emotions began to get the better of him with the prospect of his retirement drawing ever closer.

So he walked down the pitch to Hayden and asked him to finish it off as quickly as he could. Hayden obliged by thumping Sajid Mahmood's next ball over the fence for six then flicking a single off the following delivery.

''I'm actually a little relieved it's over to be honest,'' Langer later told a news conference.

''I said to Haydos in the last over Mate, I'm getting a bit emotional here, how about a six and a one to finish it?'.

''Next thing you know, bang! A six and a one and then you actually realise it was all over.'' Langer announced before the match that he was joining Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath in retiring from test cricket after months of agonising.

''AMAZING MOMENT'' The 36-year-old left-hander from Western Australia has made no secret of his unwavering passion for playing for Australia but said he knew it was the right time to quit.

He fought back tears while announcing his retirement to the media and was an emotional wreck during the playing of the national anthems.

Langer, who scored 7,696 runs, including 23 centuries and a high score of 250 during his 105-test career, also dropped three catches during the match but held his composure to ensure Australia cruised to the victory target of 46 without loss.

''It was an amazing moment in my life,'' he said.

''That's probably the perfect script, to be out there when the winning runs are scored with my opening partner, 5-0 up in a test series.

''The first morning was a bit emotional for me. It was business as usual after that.

''There's no denying when the national anthem was on and I saw my family up in the box and looked around for the last time before we went out to field, I knew that I was pretty upset.

''It probably affected the way I played the first day, I dropped three catches. That's good. I'd be upset if I wasn't a bit upset about it.'' REUTERS SAM VC1300