Langeveldt impressed with seamers' aggression

After bowling Bangladesh out for under 100 in the first T20, South Africa's attack intends to apply the same heat to their opposition in the second game as they go in search of a series win.

"We need to be pretty aggressive; that's our game plan," Charl Langeveldt, who is on his first assignment as South Africa's bowling coach after succeeding Allan Donald last month, said. "Normally when we come to the subcontinent, we try and use our aggression. That's why we play four fast bowlers."

South Africa's pack of Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada, David Wiese and Wayne Parnell broke the back of the Bangladesh chase, with six wickets between them. Abbott and Rabada set the tone through effective use of the short ball, which made matters uncomfortable for the Bangladesh batsmen even though there was not much bounce or pace from the surface.

Abbott's first over was exclusively about holding his length back and varying his line from wide outside the off stump to closer in, aimed at the batsman's body. He was rewarded with a wicket at the end of it. Rabada initially bowled on a length but soon saw he would need to get the batsmen into awkward positions. As soon as he banged in a bouncer, it produced a wicket.

But Langeveldt explained that despite the brutish nature of a barrage of short balls, he is not teaching his bowlers to single-mindedly adopt a caveman-like, forceful approach to their bowling. "It's also about the follow-up ball and our guys executed that well too," he explained. "We need to adapt. You can't just come and be aggressive to a Shakib [Al Hasan] or a Mushfiqur [Rahim] if he is going well. It's also about adapting to the conditions."

Wiese demonstrated how taking pace off the ball was an equally effective tactic, while Parnell found a hint of reverse-swing. Those subtle arts are what Langeveldt is placing the focus on in limited-overs cricket ahead of the World T20, which will be played in India next year.

With conditions likely to be more like the ones South Africa are experiencing now in Bangladesh than those they play in at home, Langeveldt wants his men to have enough variation in their game to perform on any surface. "The main thing for us for the T20 World Cup is to improve our skills. It's not 100% yet. We've got a young attack - they are good listeners and they ask good questions." Chris Morris is the other member of the attack and he may come in for Parnell for the second game.

Eddie Leie will also hope to get an opportunity. The legspinner could make his international debut, likely at the expense of Aaron Phangiso, if South Africa want to give all their bowlers a run in this series, something Langeveldt hinted at. "We are experimenting with the new guys to see where they are," he said. "We know what we are going to get from Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel so this is a good opportunity to see what the young guys have got."