Charl Langeveldt

If one could count the number of cricketers who moonlit as prison warders early in their careers, you’d only end up with Charl Langeveldt. The muscular pace man with a distinct windmill action had a start stop International career due to stiff competition.

Since his debut in 2001, Langeveldt has had year-long sabbaticals from the South African squad on no less than three occasions. Appearances for Langeveldt have largely been in limited overs, but he has seen more highlights than what some of his fellow countrymen experience over an entire International career. His second ODI against Kenya provided Langeveldt his first moment of reckoning, with figures of 4/21 helping South Africa to one of their largest ODI wins. In 2005, on being called up to the Test side to visiting England, Langeveldt took a 5-for on debut to again lead the Proteas to a resounding victory. His first ODI five-for came at one of his favourite soils at the Caribbean, where figures of 5/62 defeated West Indies by a dramatic single run. An unlikely hat trick off the final over by Langeveldt completely turned the tides and provided ODI cricket with one of its best matches.

In between, he played a solitary game in the 2003 World Cup that ended in disappointment for hosts South Africa. They did bounce back four years hence in 2007, with Langeveldt among the team’s bowling spearheads. He recorded his career best 5/39 in the tournament against finalists Sri Lanka and after Shaun Pollock’s retirement, Langeveldt was one of the frontrunners for a permanent spot to spearhead the pace attack with Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn. While constantly battling for a spot with the fiery Andre Nel and emerging talents such as Wayne Parnell, Langeveldt’s workman-like attributes are unique in a South African squad that boasts of immense depth fast bowling options.