South Africans Make their Mark on IPL Cricket Team

April 13 - South Africans are making their mark on this year's Indian Premier League cricket tournament, and no keener can this influence be felt than on the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

From the first IPL four years ago, South Africans have shaped the essence and spirit of the RCB team, through players such as Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Dale Steyn.

And although these players have already left, the South African connection can also be felt in this fourth season.

The premier link is naturally through the team's chief coach, South African Ray Jennings.

Jennings has been praised time and time again for his excellent work ethic and for essentially turning RCB's fortune around in the second season, when the tournament was played out in South Africa.

Jennings said: "Our boss understands that South Africa does play a big role in world cricket. I am the only South African coach in the IPL. I know our national and local players well. That influences RCB's thought patterns."

"It is important to understand there are four to five Australian coaches and they take 57 players and we (South Africa) have got only 17 to 18. So we have got the best," he said.

So far, ten South Africans have featured in RCB teams over four years - more than any other foreign country overall.

This season, the South Africans on the team are AB de Villiers, Charl Langeveldt, Johan van der Wath, Jonathan Vandiar and Rilee Rossouw.

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