Cricket

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) assistant coach Lance Klusener has downplayed the recent public outburst by team owner Sanjiv Goenka towards skipper KL Rahul, describing it as a "storm in a teacup." Klusener emphasized that he sees no issue with "robust discussions between two cricket lovers."Despite speculations about Rahul's future as LSG captain, Klusener stated that there have been "certainly no discussions around" the matter. He defended Rahul's performance, acknowledging that the IPL has been challenging for the opener due to the team's inconsistent batting."KL has got his own unique style which has made him a fantastic player," Klusener said. "This IPL has been exceptionally tough for him because we've kept losing wickets at stages which hasn't allowed him to kick on where he likes."Klusener expressed confidence that Rahul is capable of a big knock and that the team is supporting him. He also acknowledged that the bowling unit underperformed in their recent loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, but attributed it to a combination of exceptional batting and poor execution.With LSG's playoff hopes hanging in the balance, Klusener emphasized the need for consistency. "We've been just a little bit inconsistent by our own high standards," he said. "We just need to deal with the fact of where we are now and make sure that we become consistent."

South African cricket legend Lance Klusener has been appointed as the assistant coach of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. The announcement was made by LSG on Friday, adding Klusener to their already formidable coaching staff led by head coach Justin Langer and assistant coach S Sriram.Klusener brings a wealth of experience to the LSG dugout, having previously served as an assistant coach for the Mumbai Indians under Shaun Pollock in the early years of the IPL. He also has a successful track record as head coach of the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League, guiding them to their maiden CPL title.Beyond his IPL and CPL stints, Klusener has also held coaching roles with the Afghanistan national team, as well as the South Africa and Zimbabwe batting units. He has also worked in the Indian domestic circuit with Tripura.During his playing days, Klusener was renowned as one of the finest all-rounders in white-ball cricket. He was a key member of the South African team that reached the semi-finals of the 1999 World Cup, where he was named Player of the Tournament. Klusener's all-round abilities, including his explosive batting and accurate medium-pace bowling, made him a formidable force on the field.Klusener's appointment as assistant coach at LSG is expected to further strengthen the team's coaching setup. His experience and expertise will be invaluable to the players, particularly in the areas of batting and all-round development. LSG will be hoping to build on their impressive performance in the 2023 IPL season, where they reached the playoffs under the guidance of Langer and Sriram.