Langer, Thompson inducted into Hall of Fame

Test great Justin Langer and trailblazer Raelee Thompson have been named as this year's inductees in the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

An eight-person panel, brought together by the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Committee, Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) selected Langer and Thompson to become the 58th and 59th inductees respectively, since the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame was established in 1996.

Langer, the current men's national team coach, made his international debut 29 years ago this week and went on to have a storied Test career, appearing 105 times in Baggy Green, and scoring 7,696 runs at an average of 45.27.

The Western Australian played eight Tests in the five years following his debut, before breaking through with a maiden century on Australia's tour of Pakistan in 1998.

Langer moved to the top of the order in 2001, where he went on to forge Australia's most prolific partnership in Test cricket with Matthew Hayden.

The pair compiled 6,081 runs together from 122 Test innings at an average of 51.53, including 14 century stands.

Following successful stints as coach of WA and Perth Scorchers, Langer was appointed coach of the Australian men's cricket team in May 2018, and led them to the Men's ICC 2021 T20 World Cup title and retaining the Ashes in 2019 and 2021-2022.

Meanwhile Thompson, hailing from Shepparton in Victoria's north-east, is one of the pioneers of the women's game.

A fast bowler who played 16 Tests and 23 One-Day Internationals between 1972 and 1985, she captained the team four times. Thompson is the oldest player – male or female – to take a maiden five-wicket haul in Test matches at 39 years and 175 days of age.

Her final Test match in 1985, the fifth and deciding Test match of the 1984-85 Women's Ashes series played in Bendigo, saw her lead the Australians to reclaim the Women' Ashes trophy after a 30-year hiatus.

Thompson took 57 Test wickets at an average of 18.24 and 24 One-Day International wickets at 18.66.

Thompson also represented Victoria on 45 occasions before serving as a selector for many years. She has continued mentoring future generations of female cricketers at her home club, Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies Cricket Club and accepted Life Membership from Cricket Victoria in 2018.

"Justin and Raelee are extremely deserving inductees and it is wonderful to acknowledge and celebrate the immense achievements and contributions of these legends of our game," said CA CEO Nick Hockley.

"Justin has had a tremendous impact on Australian cricket, both at the top of the order alongside Matthew Hayden, as a coach of Western Australia and more recently as Head Coach of the Australian men's team.

"Raelee has been a leader and champion of cricket as a sport for women and girls through an incredible period of evolution, both as a proud player and captain of her country and continuing that passion towards ensuring that the game continues to progress and flourish for future generations."

All inductees in the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame must have been retired from international cricket for a minimum of five years to be eligible for selection.

Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Selection Panel

ACHOF chairman and current MCC committee member Peter King

Former Test captain Belinda Clark

Former Test captain Mark Taylor

Former Test batsman and former MCC President Paul Sheahan

Australian Cricketers' Association CEO Todd Greenberg

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley

Media representatives Ben Horne and Greg Baum