Hare-brained strokes by Phillip Hughes and Brad Haddin, and impatient prods by Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Steve Smith crippled Australia's hopes of regaining the Ashes as the top seven batsmen combined for a measly 77 runs.
''The ball was nipping around this morning, but there is no excuse for an Australian team to be bowled out for 98,'' Langer told the BBC during his commentary stint.
Vice-captain Clarke, who top-scored with just 20, had to agree.
''The positive is we get another bat, so we get another opportunity.
''After lunch, after the rain, it was still overcast and the ball was swinging a little bit but we have no excuses, we played some bad shots, whether that be before lunch or after lunch unfortunately.''
Conditions do not change so dramatically that blame can be pointed squarely at a pitch where two English batsmen comprehensively outscored 11 of Australia's.
At 10.30am, the teams were equal. By 5.41pm, the teams were equal in run tally only, with England 0-98.
But when conditions are skewed towards batsmen, the woes of Australia's top order are laid bare.
It is curious that of Australia's top seven, only Ricky Ponting and Hughes are not regulars in the national Twenty20 side, yet of England's, only Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood are.
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