Langer aims to keep Eng on the back foot

Western Australia will strive to keep England on the back foot in their tour match starting on Monday, Australia opener Justin Langer said on Sunday.

"The whole summer for us is about winning the Ashes. From my point of view I hope England gain no momentum because cricket is about momentum," Langer told a news conference.

Langer will captain Western Australia in the three-day fixture. England lost their opening one-day match to an invitational side on October 22 and were then outplayed in a drawn two-day game against Western Australia.

The tourists' preparations for the five-test series against Australia, starting in Brisbane on November 7, are also in disarray. Opening batsmen Marcus Trescothick (shoulder) and Michael Vaughan (knee) plus strike bowler Darren Gough (knee) and all rounder Andrew Flintoff (groin) are all nursing injuries.

Although Durham fast bowler Stephen Harmison was lampooned in the Australia media after bowling eight wides in one over during England's 58-run loss to a Australian Cricket Board Chairman's XI, Langer said the 24-year-old had impressed him in county cricket as a bright prospect.

"He bowled like the wind. While he might not be getting it right at the moment, you are always wary of someone with that pace and bounce," Langer said.

Mail Cricket Editor