Test decision out of Langer's hands, says Buchanan

Australia's selectors will rely on medical advice before deciding whether the opening batsman Justin Langer will play with a fractured rib in Thursday's first Test against West Indies. Langer was adamant that he would play in the first of three matches against the tourists at the Gabba despite breaking a rib while playing for Western Australia in an ING Cup match on Saturday.

But John Buchanan, the coach, said that the decision would be taken out of the strong-willed hands of Langer on Monday. "He's a very tough little nut," Buchanan said on Sunday. "He's a vital member of our side. For him personally and for us as a team, we want to make sure we make the right decision. It's like everybody else understands, that if he was unfit, he wouldn't be playing. I know that he desperately wants to play and we desperately want him to play."

Mike Hussey, Langer's Western Australian team-mate and the one-day international batsman, is the likely stand-by player. But Langer was in no mood to give someone else a crack at his hard-earned opening spot. "I've never had a broken rib before," he said. "I am certainly feeling it at the moment but I'm sure by Thursday it will be okay."

Asked how confident he was of playing he said: "No doubt, 100%. I'll probably be a bit sore for a while. I'm not trying to be a hero but it's only pain, mate."

Buchanan said: "It's going to be pretty important that we try to settle the side as quickly as we can. The selectors are discussing it. There isn't an official stand-by player because we still don't fully understand the extent of the injury, apart from the fact that we know it's a broken rib and he's pretty bloody sore. The selectors will take that all into account and have a decision [Monday]."

Langer was one of the few batting successes in the failed Ashes campaign against England last month, topping Australia's averages with 394 runs. With 22 centuries and 7,023 runs in 94 Tests at an average of 45.90, he is Australia's eighth-highest scorer.