Banner reading ‘Justice for JL’ is quickly removed in first Test against the West Indies

A hometown rebellion attempting to honour West Australian cricket icon Justin Langer has been quickly quashed, with a banner reading ‘Justice for JL’ taken down within minutes of being put up.

With almost more runs on the board than spectators in the stands in the first Test between Australia and the West Indies at Optus Stadium in Perth, a group of teenagers decided to breathe some life into the dour run fest. 

The group of rowdy teenagers unfurled a banner reading ‘Justice for JL’ at the Justin Langer Stand end on Friday, but within minutes a security guard was ordered by his superiors to take it down.

The group had been actively supporting their hometown hero prior to raising the banner, with one fan tweeting: ‘Chants of ‘we want justice’ for Langer are becoming so loud that they are shadowing commentator’s voice’

Justin Langer speaks with Steve Smith of Australia during day one of the first Test match between Australia and the West Indies at Optus Stadium

‘A rowdy group of fans are chanting ‘We want Justin’ moments after their banner titled ‘Justice for JL’ was confiscated by security,’ posted another. 

There were plenty of cricket fans that were unimpressed that the banner was confiscated. Earlier, a banner reading ‘Marvellous’ had ben raised for Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne for his double century without incident. 

‘Nice to see the security guards at Optus stadium confiscating a sign from fans saying ‘ justice for JL’ wonder who demanded they do that? Absolutely pathetic,’ one fan posted.

‘@OptusStadium and @CricketAus. No wonder no fans are showing up,’ replied another.

‘Tomorrow’s banner: ‘Justice for ‘Justice for JL’ banner-wielders’,’ added another.

‘Pat Cummins’ henchman confiscating the Justice for JL sign is peak Cricket Australia. Censoring the cricket going public,’ tweeted another.

Optus Stadium has a policy of removing any objects that block the venue’s commercial signage.

Although the unfurled banner was slightly obscuring an electronic advertising panel, that part of the panel wasn’t in use given there was another advertising panel already in front of it. 

The WA public were left fuming when Langer was pushed out as coach of Australia in early February, and fans are still angry about the decision 10 months later.

Spectators in the sparse crowd play with an inflatable ball during day three of the first Test between Australia and the West Indies

Langer is especially revered in his home state, and fans wanted to show their support during day three at Optus Stadium.

The group described the incident as a ‘stitch up’, and they produced a series of chants to voice their support for Langer.

‘What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now.’

The incident continued a week of headlines surrounding whether there was a rift between Langer and some of his former players.

Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates bowling out Kraigg Braithwaite of the West Indies to claim his 200th Test wicket

Langer did his best to dispel that on the morning of day one when he hugged and chatted to the players while they warmed up on the field.

‘I love Australian cricket and I love being back and seeing the boys. I haven’t seen them for nine months,’ Langer said.

Meanwhile Cummins became the fourth Australian bowler in the current team to take 200 Test wickets after dismissing West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (64) with an absolute seed.

The delivery was reminiscent of the one that bamboozled England skipper Joe Root in the last Ashes series, angling into the right hander and knocking over his castle.

Cummins’ 200th wicket means Australia becomes the first Test nation to have four players in the lineup with 200 or more wickets. He is joined by Mitch Starc (287), Josh Hazlewood (215) and Nathan Lyon (438).