Sourav has made a big difference: Langeveldt

Tue, Mar 16 2010 - Charl Langeveldt, who has played three matches for the Kolkata Knight Riders, has shown his class in each of the three matches. One of those matches was Kolkata's last match in IPL 2009, in which Langeveldt returned with figures of 3/15 to show the folly of keeping him on the bench for the entire duration of that tournament.

This time around he was part of the starting eleven and his control has helped Kolkata enormously.

In an interview with the Telegraph, Langeveldt felt that Sourav Ganguly being back as captain had made a big difference to the team.

"Sourav back as captain has made a big difference. He knows the conditions, knows the player... More importantly, he's a thinking guy, keeps changing the field, rotating the bowlers," Langeveldt said.

Langeveldt also said the change in the coaching staff had made a difference to the team.

"If you win, it's a lot more calm. Last year we were struggling... This year things are a lot different. Sourav knows each player and his potential. With the new coaching staff, things have been a lot different.

"Dav [Whatmore - KKR's new coach] is cool and relaxed. He has a good idea of international cricket, having worked with the Sri Lankan and Bangladesh national sides. He communicates well with the players and his man management is very good," he added.

Praising the set of new Indian players that have joined KKR, Langeveldt said, "A lot of new Indian players... Lot of talented youngsters coming through has been good."

Langeveldt had high words of praise for former fast bowling great Wasim Akram, who is with the team as a bowling consultant.

"Akram is unbelievable. Speaking to him about swing bowling - conventional and reverse - is an education. He is an asset to the team.

"For someone who has over 900 wickets in international cricket, there's very little you can say. But picking his brain and learning from what he says is a great experience for the youngsters... I'm still learning too. No one is a master of the game."

One of the best during the death overs with his variation, Langeveldt said there was no secret behind his success.

"We've been bowling well as a unit. There's been good back up at the other end too. I'm used to playing in these conditions, bowling on flat wickets. There's no secret of bowling well in Twenty20 cricket. If you bowl well on your day, you bowl well."

"I'd been here two weeks before the start and toured with the South Africa one-day side. I've toured India four times and so adjustment wasn't a big problem.

"It needed just a small adjustment, bringing your delivery length a bit shorter. In Twenty20 cricket, you just need to stay cool under pressure."