Langer to bolster Warriors line-up

Australian Test batsman Justin Langer and all-rounder Darren Wates return to the Western Warriors line-up for next week's Mercantile Mutual Cup double -header in Melbourne and Perth.

Langer replaces batsman Damien Martyn, who is representing Australia in the Carlton series, while Wates returns in place of all-rounder Stuart Karppinen.

The Western Warriors play the Victorian Bushrangers at the MCG on Tuesday, 16 January and return home for a day/night WACA clash with the New South Wales Blues on Friday, 19 January.

Langer top-scored with 88 in his last one-day outing for WA on 9 December 2000, while Wates, the Mercantile Mutual Cup competition's best new talent last summer, will play his first match of 2000-01.

With all sides to play 10 home-and-away matches, the Western Warriors sit third with 14 points from five matches, trailing ladder-leaders New South Wales (18 points from six matches) and the second placed Southern Redbacks (17 from six matches).

Western Warriors v Victoria (Jan 16) and New South Wales (Jan 19);
Tom Moody (captain), Jo Angel, Ryan Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Kade Harvey, Brad Hogg, Mike Hussey, Brendon Julian, Simon Katich, Justin Langer, Duncan Spencer, Darren Wates. Wayne Clark (coach), Neil Tyndall (physical conditioner).