Former national cricket selector Hugh Page said on Thursday that he would have taken a chance and kept an injured Charl Langeveldt in the South African team for the crucial fifth Castle Lager/MTN Test against England, starting at Supersport Park on Friday.
Earlier, it was announced that Titans fast-bowler Andre Nel will return to the South African cricket team for the last Test, which South Africa have to win to avoid a series defeat.
”I think even an injured Langeveldt would add something to our bowling attack,” said Page. ”He provides a different dimension. I have nothing against Andre Nel, but I think he is too similar to Makhaya Ntini.
”If we’re relying on Langeveldt to win the match for us with the bat, we don’t deserve to win. What worried me at the Wanderers [in the fourth Test] was that we weren’t able to bowl them out.
”Matthew Hoggard was able to make use of the conditions to bring swing-bowling into play, and he was very effective. I think Langeveldt would have been able to do the same, and I think he could have been useful in Pretoria as well.”
Page suggested that all-rounder Andrew Hall might also make a valuable contribution to the team.
”He adds some variation in the bowling department, and provides another batting option. Hall is a gutsy player who doesn’t give away his wicket very easily.”
Nel was included in the squad after it became clear that swing-bowler Langeveldt had not recovered sufficiently from the injury he sustained to his left hand in the third Test in Cape Town.
Langeveldt broke the fifth metacarpal in his left hand when he was struck by a delivery from Steve Harmison. Although he has made good progress, he was unable to bat at practice on Wednesday.
”I could hold and grip the bat okay, but when I hit the ball there was a lot of discomfort,” said Langeveldt. He was able to bowl without any discomfort.
Team coach Ray Jennings said Langeveldt’s injury creates a tricky situation.
”We can’t go into the Test with a player who is not fit to bat,” said Jennings. ”However, it’s important for Charl to bowl some long sessions ahead of the one-day international series against England.
”The Lions have agreed to include him in their squad for their Supersport Series match against the Warriors in Port Elizabeth, with the proviso that if he does play, he will not bat.”
Lions coach Shukri Conrad gave his assurance to Jennings as well as to the national convener of selectors, Haroon Lorgat, that Langeveldt will not bat if he plays for the Lions this weekend.
”We are certainly grateful to have Langes available to bowl for us, and at the same time, we can help the national cause by giving him bowling time in the middle,” said Conrad. ”I realise that it is a risk, but we are prepared to go into the game with 10 batsmen.”
Nel’s inclusion would do much to strengthen South Africa’s bowling attack, and take some of the pressure off premier strike-bowlers Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini.
Nel, who was one of the five Cricketers of the Year in 2004, was particularly effective against the West Indies in 2003/04. He is well known for his aggression and his pace.
He was initially not considered for selection for the Test series against England, because he was still recovering from a back injury. However, he has since recovered fully and has been effective in recent matches for the Titans. — Sapa