Justin Langer debuted against the West Indies in Adelaide, in 1993. This test was most noted for a famous run-chase by Australia, that fell just short. Langer made a name for himself by taking numerous blows in the first few balls of his international career, against fast bowlers such as Curtly Ambrose.

Langer only played five games before being dropped. He was recalled four years later for the Australian tour of Pakistan. The tour started disastrously for Langer, scoring lowly in the first game. This was compounded by receiving a golden duck in the first innings of the second game in Karachi. In the next innings Langer was trapped for what was thought to be an LBW, that would have given Langer the most unwanted pair in cricket. However, umpire Steve Bucknor did not give it out, and Langer went on to score his first century in International cricket.

In November 1999 at Bellerive Oval in Hobart, he shared a match-winning 238-run partnership with Adam Gilchrist to rescue Australia from 126/5 chasing a victory target of 369 against Pakistan. The century scored in this innings was scored in a long 388 minutes, an Australian record.