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By Julian Linden SYDNEY, Oct 11 - Australia opener Justin Langer
called the World XI sore losers on Tuesday after their 3-0
one-day series defeat to the world champions. The world combination, who suffered three heavy losses in
Melbourne last week, now face Australia in a six-day test in
Sydney this week. England all rounder Andrew Flintoff and World XI test
skipper Graeme Smith both said their team were at a huge
disadvantage because they did not have enough time to form a
combination. "We don't want to hear any excuses about 'it is not a team,
they have less to play for', all of that sort of stuff, it is a
test match," Langer told a news conference. "They are playing the best team in the world over four years
and we are playing against the best players in the world. "There are no excuses and hopefully the best team will win
this test match and I think the best team won the three one-day
games." Langer said he was disappointed at the world team's response
and said he hoped the world team would react better if they lost
the test. "I hope the World XI are not making excuses about not being
galvanised. They are the best players in the world, they have
adapted to all conditions, I don't want excuses," he said. Langer's opening partner Matthew Hayden also said the world
team should have given more credit to the Australians for the
way they played in the one-day series. "This side is as good a side as we have ever seen perhaps in
cricket for me, if we play well then I think we will beat
anyone," Hayden said. "And I think the last few days have really proven that so I
think from our point of view it is just so important that we
just play our game. "We have come off a big series but we have had good
strategies against all of these players over a number of years,
and I think in a lot of ways if we do put that together, we are
unbeatable." Smith, the South African captain, maintained there was a
difference playing for a composite side, but said his players
still realised they had to raise their games. "The reality is that in a team environment, playing for your
country, that is the ultimate, that's what you dream of playing
when you're young," he said. "It is difficult, it is different to come into this
environment and find your feet and where you fit in. I don't
think you can compare it to your country. "But I wouldn't have come out all this way if I didn't think
I was going to come out to win and if we're going to come out to
win, we're going to need all individuals to pull their weight."
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