'I do miss playing international cricket'

Charl Langeveldt is still not willing to reveal why exactly he decided to turn his back on South Africa, just saying that his withdrawal provided an opportunity for another player of colour in Cobras team-mate Monde Zondeki. Zaahier Adams interviewed him for iol.co.za.

Yeah, I do miss playing international cricket. I do watch the guys and think that I can still do a job out there. I still have the feeling to play for my country. I mean Australia will always remain a nice place to tour.

So is there a realistic chance that you might make yourself available to the Proteas for the end-of-year Australian tour?

I don't think so. I've got a Kolpak contract with Derbyshire and one of the clauses within the contract is that I'm not available for the Proteas. I had a really good season last winter, so I don't think they would release me anyway.

Charl, you worked as prison warder before you became a professional cricketer. Has that perhaps shaped your attitude towards managing your career?

I think that probably does have a lot to do with the way I approach my cricket. I mean bowling a ball across 20 paces for 10 to 15 overs a day, is a lot easier that working in a prison. I mean a cricketer's life away from match days is quite simple. You go to gym, then go practice, finish up at around 1:30 and the day is finished. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed working in the prison. I had a good time there too. But what it taught me was that I didn't want to go back there. Youngsters haven't worked out in the real world. And they probably don't realise that if they don't make a success of their cricket careers, then they have to go and get a 9-5 job. And let's be honest, there aren't too many bright cricketers out there.