Lanka’s fighting spirit just what doctor ordered

PROTEAS bowling coach Charl Langeveldt said he welcomed the fact that Sri Lanka’s batsmen went after them in Tuesday’s fourth ODI in Cape Town and expects more of the same in today’s fifth and final match at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

Langeveldt was quick to point out there was room for improvement but said the brutal Sri Lankan onslaught in the first 20 overs of the 40run win at Newlands was a necessary learning curve for the young bowlers.

However‚ he also hinted at Morne Morkel making a comeback for the Titans in the Momentum One-Day Cup, which starts next week.

“Because we’re playing with three bowling all-rounders‚ I feel there’s space for a genuine strike bowler. Morne Morkel starts playing in a few weeks’ time‚ which is a good sign for us and he’s always had a good ODI record. There’s a spot open and we’re looking for a strike bowler because Dale Steyn doesn’t look like he’ll make it‚” said Langeveldt.

“We’re still at a stage where we’re trying to find an opening partner for Kagiso Rabada but the nice thing about Tuesday was that we got tested and we’ve had some easy sailing in the past couple of days. . . This is the kind of challenge we’ve been looking for because New Zealand is going to be a different Test.”

With the whitewash on the horizon‚ testing different combinations and resting players has been the modus operandi for the Proteas think-tank.

The Highveld tracks have not been as batting friendly as one would have expected‚ but the wet summer and the high water table has had a lot to do with that.

Langeveldt hopes SuperSport Park groundsman Rudolph du Preez has prepared a surface that will test his bowlers. — TMG