(Windies Cricket) – South Africa bowling coach Charl Langeveldt says his players are relaxed ahead of their must-win game against West Indies at Kensington Oval here on Friday night.The tourists have been out of action ever since their game against World champions Australia last Sunday was ruined by rain and finished in a no-result.
However, Langeveldt said the downtime had been crucial to their recovery and had allowed them to refocus for the upcoming contest.
“The mood has been great. The two days off have given us a breather,” Langeveldt explained.
“Conditions are warm here so if you practise every day you will get dehydrated and your energy will be low. Our big thing is to keep the energy levels high and to manage the players well.”
South Africa are second on 12 points, four ahead of West Indies, with Australia already having qualified for Sunday’s final.
West Indies won their first encounter with the Proteas in Guyana by four wickets in the first leg in Guyana but were soundly beaten by 139 runs on the second leg at Warner Park in St Kitts.
On that occasion, the regional side were dismissed for 204 chasing 344 for victory, and Langeveldt said much would again rest on South Africa’s bowling group.
“From a bowling point of view we are confident as an attack, especially the seamers,” he said.
“We have had the odd blip with the no-balls but that’s cricket, you are going to get that. The wides and no-balls have been a big improvement from the T20 World Cup where we were sloppy.”
Langeveldt, a former seamer who played six Tests and 72 One-Day Internationals, said it was important the bowling department continued to develop their craft especially in the shorter formats.
“It (bowling) has come up in leaps and bounds but it still remains a work in progress. In the nets I try to encourage the players to work on their various sets of skills,” said the 41-year-old.
“Hopefully in a few months we will get to a point where everyone has a different slower ball, everyone can bowl a slower ball bouncer, that is the ultimate.”
Langeveldt has special memories of the Oval here, taking a hat-trick in the final over as part of a five-wicket haul, to help South Africa to a dramatic one-run victory over West Indies in an ODI back in 2005.