Justin Langer became the highest scoring Australian in first-class cricket on Thursday when he overtook the great Don Bradman.

The gritty left-hander passed Bradman's record of 28,067 runs during an innings of 107 for English county Somerset against Worcestershire at New Road.

It was Langer's 615th innings; Bradman required 338.

"I am very proud," Langer was quoted as saying.

"Bradman is in a league of his own but to achieve this is very special. It means I have been around a long while, but as John Buchanan [Images] always said, you only judge champions on longevity and not on flash-in-the-pan brilliance."

The 38-year-old Langer retired from international cricket after helping Australia [Images] crush England [Images] 5-0 in the 2006-07 Ashes series.

He made 7,696 runs in 105 tests, averaging 45.27 and making 23 centuries, and formed a prolific opening partnership with Matthew Hayden [Images].

"It is very fitting that a man of Justin's calibre takes this honour because when you break a record of one of the greatest individuals, that being Sir Donald Bradman, it has to be by a person of quality," Hayden told Australian Associated Press.