AUSTRALIA opening batsman Justin Langer admitted today that his brave bid to prove his fitness fot the first Test against West Indies was likely to fail.
Langer, who broke a rib while batting for Western Australia in an ING Cup match on Saturday, has won a 24-hour reprieve and now has until tomorrow morning to prove he will be fit to play.
But after insisting last night he was a "100 per cent chance" of playing in the first Test at the Gabba, the 34-year-old left-hander admitted today his chances of gaining the nod were slim.
"If it's anything like this morning, I don't think I've got that much chance," Langer, who has played 53 consecutive matches since winning a recall for the Oval Test of the 2001 Ashes tour, said.
"It's pretty sore and it's a lot worse than I thought it was when I spoke to everybody yesterday.
"I'm not so worried about getting another hit in the ribs. It's just the fact that it's hard to run and it's hard to breathe.
"You can be as optimistic as you like. But I saw the intensity and the way the guys trained this morning and if I'm not up to 100 per cent, I wouldn't be playing on Thursday."
The 94-Test veteran, who appears set to miss the chance to play his 100th Test on home soil at the SCG in January against South Africa, said he had been advised to rest for 10 days, which should have him ready to return for the second Test in Hobart starting on November 17.
But if he is forced to step aside, Langer said he could not be more delighted that Hussey, 30, would get the chance to make his Test debut.
"He's your consummate professional and I've watched him since he was an 18-year-old kid," Langer said.
"I've probably not met a guy who wants to wear a baggy green cap as much as Mike Hussey does.
"So if I'm going to be replaced by anyone, you couldn't have a better replacement."
Speaking in Perth today before catching a flight to link up with the Australia team in Brisbane, Hussey said he had dreamed of playing Test cricket since the age of five, although being a standby player was a "funny feeling".
"Justin's going to be given every chance to prove his fitness. I've just got to sit and wait," Hussey said.
"Obviously I'm good friends with Justin and hope he recovers and is OK, but in the same breath I'm pretty excited about getting a chance to wear the baggy green."
Langer sat out the fielding and nets session at Allan Border Field today to discuss his fitness with coaching and medical staff.
"There's not a lot you can do," he said.
"What the medicos are saying is if I give it seven to 10 days to heal, then it should be almost back to 100 per cent."
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