The legendary all-rounder Jacques Kallis has been added in the South African national cricket team squad, as the batting consultant. Meanwhile, former Proteas pacer Charl Langeveldt is also set to become the bowling consultant of this team.
After the former Proteas captain Graeme Smith has joined as South Africa’s temporary director of cricket on last Wednesday (11th December), he has taken around one week time to set up the coaching staff of the men’s national cricket team with some legendary names. Former wicketkeeper-batsman Mark Boucher has already been appointed as the head coach of the South African men’s national cricket team till the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Enoch Nkwe is playing Boucher’s deputy role till the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
On the other hand, former South African right-arm pacer Charl Langeveldt is ready to join the team as the bowling consultant. Langeveldt was serving as the bowling coach for the Bangladesh man’s national cricket team for last five months. After Cricket South Africa (CSA) has recently requested the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to release Langeveldt, who had a two-year deal with the BCB, that can open up his opportunity to serve for South Africa. The BCB has accepted that request, and now, CSA has to make an official announcement about Charl Langeveldt’s appointment as the bowling consultant.
BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury told Cricbuzz, “I can confirm that we have received a formal request for his release. We value our strong cricketing relationship with CSA. We have also taken into consideration that he was a South African international cricketer and we understand his reasons for wanting to work with his own team. The Board has decided to release him with immediate effect.”
Jacques Kallis joins the South African team at least for this season
In the meantime, CSA has appointed Jacques Kallis as the batting consultant for this summer. The 44-year-old Kallis was one of the greatest all-rounders in international cricket history. He played for South Africa from 1995 to 2014, where he played 166 Tests, 328 ODIs and 25 T20Is. The right-handed batsman scored 13,289 Test runs (average 55.37), 11,579 ODI runs (average 44.36) and 666 T20I runs (average 35.05). Meanwhile, as a right-arm pacer, he bagged 292 Test wickets, 273 ODI wickets and 12 T20I wickets.
While Jacques Kallis had huge experiences in international cricket, the board wants to utilise it in the present South African squad, which is facing a transition period. Kallis is ready to join the Proteas camp on Wednesday (18th December).
Earlier, Jacques Kallis was the batting consultant and head coach of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
The new coaching staff are getting ready to face their first exam as the four-match home Test series against England, starting from 26th December 2019.