It has now been two decades since we last saw Lance Klusener play in the colours of the Proteas.
Nicknamed “The Zulu,” Klusener was well-known for his aggressive batting style, his ability to bowl effectively, and his knack for taking wickets during critical moments.
Although he played in 171 One Day Internationals and 49 Test matches, Klusener is most remembered for his remarkable performance in the 1999 World Cup, where he almost led the Proteas to the final.
His baseball-style backlift and thunderous hitting made him a legend in South African cricket. He was named Man of the Tournament during the 1999 World Cup, where he truly shone. The following year, he was recognised as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2000.
Lance Klusener made his international debut in 1996 and peaked between 1998 and 2001. Unfortunately, after the 2003 World Cup, he played only a handful of matches due to ongoing ankle injuries and a public dispute with then South African captain Graeme Smith.
So, where is Lance Klusener today?
After retiring from all forms of cricket in 2010, the former Proteas all-rounder transitioned into coaching. From 2012 to 2016, he served as head coach of the Dolphins, a team he represented during his playing career. Subsequently, Klusener had a brief tenure with the Zimbabwe national team and then joined Rajshahi Kings in the Bangladesh Premier League as head coach.
He has also worked as a batting coach for the Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Since 2022, Lance Klusener has been the head coach of the Durban’s Super Giants in SA20.
How good was Klusener?
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