Melbourne: Australia's top order batsman Justin Langer has dropped hints of an impending retirement, saying he has not thought about his international career beyond the upcoming Ashes series.
Langer said that he had mulled on hanging his boots ever since being felled by a Makhaya Ntini bouncer on the recent tour of South Africa and only the fancy of winning back the small urn from England has kept him going.
"I can't say what the future holds beyond the Ashes," the left-handed batsman was quoted as saying in Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday.
"I would hate to say something now and it become a big distraction through something that is as big a deal as the Ashes. I have always said that the day you decide to retire, do it. Don't announce it ahead of time because it will just lead to huge distractions."
"The last Ashes series really hurt. I would love to leave the game knowing that we had regained the Ashes, and the next Ashes team would have it in their possession," Langer said.
The left-handed batsman suffered a concussion after behing hit by a nasty bouncer from fast bowler Makhaya Ntini in the third Test at Johannesburg, which was also his 100th Test.
Langer said several people had recommended he quit the game immediately after the Ntini incident, but he said he had decided to carry on.
"I promised that I would go away for three weeks and make a decision. When I first came back home I thought that possibly it was the time to go. But I know that now isn't the right time," Langer said.
"I don't know if that means I've got one series to go or whatever, but I know that I really want to play in the Ashes. It would definitely be nice to leave the game with the Ashes in our possession," he said.
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