Scale 'Mount India' to be considered great, new coach Langer to Aussies

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Newly-appointed Australia coach Justin Langer today said his team can be considered great only if it wins a Test series in India, something that he likened to conquering Mount Everest, last done back in 2004.

Langer, who took over from Darren Lehman, has plenty on his table but for him the tour of the Indian sub-continent will be the ultimate challenge, which will happen only in 2021.

"We've got a World Cup, a T20 World Cup, a couple of Ashes (in 2019 and 2021-22) - I get nervous when I start thinking about it. There are some big tournaments coming up," Langer told mediapersons today.

"But ultimately, if I fast forward it, the Indian Test tour in about three or four years' time (2021), to me that's the ultimate. We will judge ourselves on whether we're a great cricket team, if we beat India in India," the former opener declared.

For him, being a part of the Adam Gilchrist-led side that won the 2004 Test series in India 2-1, was like scaling Mount Everest. Langer believes that a victory in India will be an indelible redemption for the emotionally scarred national team.

"I look back on my career, the Mount Everest moment was 2004, when we finally beat India in India. We've got to get better at playing overseas, we become a great team if we win overseas and at home so that will be something for us to aspire to."