'Going through a tough time': Aussie coach's touching gesture for elderly fan
Justin Langer made one fan’s day with a kind gesture during an Aussie training session at the SCG.
The Aussies are preparing for the third and final Test against New Zealand and will hope to win at the SCG to complete the 3-0 clean sweep.
‘OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE’: Cricket great's hilarious pass at Sharon Stone
‘WHO CARES’: Players open up on bushfire smoke threat at SCG
But the coach took some time out of the training session at the SCG nets to visit 80-year-old Bill who came to watch the practice.
Bill nearly didn’t make it because the smoke haze was affecting his emphysema, but the 80-year-old made the trip and met Langer.
Bill Dean's home town of Lithgow has been struck by bushfires and his son-in-law’s house was nearly lost.
Bill wasn’t going to watch our Aussies train today because the smoky air was rough on his emphysema.
But he made it - and shared a special moment with coach Justin Langer. pic.twitter.com/jc1iaXM7cv— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 1, 2020
“It’s not unusual. I mean, if you can put the smile on the faces of any Australian whether they’re kids or Bill, who was telling us he’s 80 years old – that’s one of the privileges of the job, you can put smiles on people’s faces,” Langer said in a press conference after presenting Bill with an Aussie hat.
“There wasn’t too much in that. I just thought he’d appreciate having an Australian training cap on his head. He looks like he’s going through a bit of a tough time. He told me his son-in-law’s house nearly got burned down the last couple of days. It’s just about putting a smile on Aussie’s faces.”
Bill thanked Langer when he presented him with the cap: “Justin, thank you. You have put years on my life.”
Bushfire haze could interrupt Test
New Zealand offspinner Will Somerville summed up the mentality of both squads as they prepared for the possibility of the third trans-Tasman cricket Test being interrupted because of bushfire smoke.
‘MADNESS’: Disbelief over 'insane' late drama in Big Bash clash
Air quality has been a regular concern for Sydney residents in recent weeks and that is likely to be the case during the Test that starts on Friday, with smoke expected to be at its worst on Saturday.
It's entirely possible that play could be stopped, as was the case during a recent abandoned Big Bash League match in Canberra, as match referee Richie Richardson and umpires closely monitor air quality and visibility.
