Long-term damage for Langer not ruled out

Doctors have not yet ruled out the possibility that Justin Langer has sustained long-term damage after receiving a blow to his head from a Makhaya Ntini bouncer recently. While Cricket Australia's chief medical officer, Trefor James, said the chances of lingering damage were "unlikely" , only a neurological assessment could determine the full impact of the injury.

"There's no point really in doing the testing until he sort of feels as if he's recovered," James told The Sydney Morning Herald. "It's a combination of that testing and also just a clinical assessment."

Langer's manager, Robert Joske, reiterated that Langer will not be retiring any time soon. Indeed, said Joske, Langer was planning to "get stuck into a very tough pre-season with no intention whatsoever of slackening off". The player is currently resting at home in Perth, but is determined to play in the Ashes later this year: "I will train like Rocky."