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Cape Town - He is impressed with the quality of young fast bowlers he is mentoring in the Western Cape, but from a national perspective there must be some concern about the depth in reserves set to take over from the ageing Dale Steyn, Morné Morkel and Vernon Philander, said Charl Langeveldt, recently appointed high performance co-ordinator of the Cape Cobras.
Langeveldt (39) retired from all forms of cricket at the end of the 2013/2014-season after a career spanning seventeen years in which he represented South Africa in six Tests and 72 ODIs, reports the supersport.com website.
He would always be remembered for taking a hat-trick in an ODI against the West Indian Islands in 2005, and for his 5-46 on Test debut against England at Newlands which set up an impressive South African victory.
The fast swing bowler also became only the third South African to take a five-for in an ODI when he finished with 5-39 in a Cricket World Cup game against Sri Lanka in 2007.
Langeveldt was also used in a mentoring role with Johann Louw in the off-season in 2013, presiding over the development of fast bowlers like Beuran Hendricks, Lizaad Williams and Travis Miller, amongst others at the Cobras-franchise.
Hendricks captured 28 wickets during the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge competition and was selected for South Africa for the T20 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh.
The 21-year old Muller nipped out 5-21 in the second innings against the Dolphins in Paarl in a Sunfoil Series match as he and Dane Piedt featured as chief-terminators to dismiss the Dolphins for a lowly 85 in the second innings.Langeveldt said the one concern is that there are not too many real express bowlers in the Steyn or Morkel-class to follow them once they retire.
The one standout-example is Marchant de Lange.
"But Marchant is bowling a tad too short and is a bit inconsistent at the moment.
"The same is true about Rory Kleinveldt and Wayne Parnell.
"Wayne is wavering a bit in his length, but I believe it is something you can address and cure," he added.
"After Steyn, Morkel and Philander there is a bit of a gap in terms of quality of fast bowling," he added.
Luckily, De Lange is only 23 years of age and Parnell is 24, which offer them ample time to improve their lengths and the quality of their bowling.
