Gloves off
12 May 2009
Mark Boucher won’t give up his Proteas’ wicketkeeping spot without a fight.
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While Boucher struggled with the bat in both Test series against Australia this season, he believes he still has a lot more to offer at international level despite calls for AB de Villiers to be given the gloves and bat at No 7.
‘I will never rest on my laurels and I will never voluntarily give my position away,’ he says in the new issue of SA Cricket magazine. ‘That may be the wrong thing to say, but I’m very competitive and I have plenty more years in me. I only think about my goals two years at a time. I definitely have another World Cup in me and I’ll decide where to after that.
‘My body’s still in good shape and I’ve never told anyone that I’m looking to retire. After the World Cup, I’ll be 35, but if I’ve still got a lot to give, why can’t I carry on for another few years?’
Also in the new issue:
– Having been dropped from the Proteas Test team upon their return from Australia, Ashwell Prince made a triumphant return in the third Test at Newlands. He looks back on that difficult period and explains what that century meant to him.
– A more relaxed approach from Morné Morkel could help him get back into the Proteas Test team and fulfil his potential.
– Albie Morkel on his aggressive approach to batting, criticism of his bowling, why he’s glad South Africa hosted the IPL and what the Proteas must do in order to win the World T20 in England.
– Allan Donald column: ‘I respect Murali highly, but still have serious doubts about the legality of his action’
– Shaun Pollock and Jonty Rhodes have made a big impact at the Mumbai Indians in this year’s IPL. The Proteas legends explain how they got involved in coaching and the unique challenge that T20 cricket provides
– Ray Jennings on coaching the Royal Challengers Bangalore, working with Kevin Pietersen and T20 tactics.
– An experienced county campaigner and left-handed opening batsman, Chris Rogers assesses the five Ashes Test venues and gives an expert insight into exactly what aussie rookie Phillip Hughes can expect.
– England need a fully-fit Andrew Flintoff if they are to regain the Ashes.
– Sachin Tendulkar continues to let his bat do the talking.
– Against the greatest of odds, Afghanistan gained odi status and almost qualified for the 2011 World Cup. One man, Raees Ahmadzai, epitomises the success story.
– Steve Bucknor on his 128-Test career, Jonty Rhodes’s famous run out, being banned after the 2007 World Cup final, how he’d improve the referral system, and the greatest players he’s umpired.
Click here to subscribe to SA Cricket magazine
16 Comments
12 May 2009, 07:48 am
legend mark
12 May 2009, 08:04 am
Mark Boucher is a Dragon
12 May 2009, 08:15 am
#2 Kietzphat:
Joe Maher is Boucher’s love child
12 May 2009, 09:06 am
1. Smith
2. Gibbs
3. Kallis
4. De Villiers
5. Duminy
6. Boucher
7. Morkel
8. Van Der Merwe
9. Botha
10. Parnell
11. Steyn
Kicks butt!
12 May 2009, 09:18 am
Drop him. We don’t have the all-rounders we used to and he makes our batting brittle. Also, I think he’s kidding himself about carrying on post 35. His eyes will go before then and he will struggle to pick the ball up. It happens to them all eventually.
12 May 2009, 09:32 am
******, AB just hit hundreds in England and Australia. Not to mention he was out best batsmen when they came to South Africa. Why would you move him out of that Number 5 spot? Who has even said that he should move to number 7? Send me their physical residential address please. I would like to take a dump on their porch.
Boucher though is a major concern. He simply cannot do the job at 7. Good in the ODI’s, sure. For the tests, we really need someone to prop up the batting at 7. Other then the ton he got against Bangladesh, its been years since he scored a 100.
What about Heino Kuun? The youngster has been hitting double hundreds at first class level. I doubt he would be as good a gloveman as Boucher but I think he would do a better job with the bat.
12 May 2009, 09:50 am
Hats off to Afghanistan. Where do they play their home games?
12 May 2009, 10:09 am
One thing is damn certain we cant have AB batting t number 7. He has to come in at 4. Never mind tests he is doing brilliant in the IPL too. Keep AB at 4. Keep Boucher until we get another keeper.
12 May 2009, 11:51 am
Looks like a good issue
12 May 2009, 13:15 pm
I have just simply lost my passion for cricket after the nth time we bombed in a world cup. I’ll play action cricket but I’ll subscribe to SARugby because that is the game I love.
12 May 2009, 14:15 pm
Some nice editing there, Mark is allot fatter than what this picture implies.
12 May 2009, 16:44 pm
#3 money_man:
12 May 2009, 16:49 pm
#12 Frikkadelhi Daredevil: Your team playing really well. Think they could win the tourney.
13 May 2009, 00:37 am
#10 King Shark – Optimism is for fools. Sorry Sharks.: Okay!
If you think Boucher is retiring before the next ODI World Cup then you’ve underestimated him.
1 Jun 2009, 21:16 pm
Congrats on the Century SA Cricket! Looking forward to the double ton and to breaking Brian Lara’s record of 400 not out. Keep up the good work!
Boucher wil be around until atleast 2011 and I’m not complaining because he still has a lot to offer with bat and gloves and I’m sure his coach and teammates wil agree with me.
1 Jul 2009, 18:26 pm
Loved this issue. Maybe in the next Herschelle will have his own cover and explain his life now. I’m actually happy Mark Boucher was on this cover, people said he should retire! But he is the best wicket-keeper/batsmen ever! Well is one of the best. I salute Mark Boucher!
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