Nobody likes to see a player suffering a bad injury during play, especially when it's a freak accident. However, when a bail spun up from Gemaal Hussein's shattered wicket and caught Mark Boucher in the eye, it wasn't immediately obviously apparent how serious it was.
The day's play in Taunton should have been about the South Africans' practice for the forthcoming Test series against England, or at least by Peter Trego's brave dismantling of Morne Morkel and Jacques Kallis. The Somerset all-rounder's blitz of an innings deserved to take the headlines but instead, it could be that Boucher, set to end his magnificent 15-year Test career this summer, may be forced to bring forward that retirement. Let's hope that surgery on the eye laceration is successful and there is no lasting damage. Donning the gloves and standing up to Imran Tahir again would be a bonus.
Meanwhile, another long-standing wicketkeeper has announced his immediate exit from the international scene. Tatenda Taibu has been part of Zimbabwean cricket for a decade. He's been through two major player revolts, the first black captain of his country (succeeding Heath Streak) and one retirement and now, aged just 29, he has chosen to quit such a quiet life to focus on working for the church. While never a global household name because of his country, he wasn't a bad player at all. His Test batting average of just above 30 was almost identical to Boucher's, albeit from far fewer matches. It would have been interesting to see what would have transpired had Tibbly's attempts to secure qualification for South Africa had been pursued to the end. Might he have deposed the legendary Boucher? We'll never know because Taibu returned to Zimbabwean colours after a two-year break in 2007.
Zimbabwe don't get to play many Tests but Taibu managed to play at least two against each of the top nations. His only century and only victories came in home fixtures against Bangladesh but he made some feisty fifties in other contests, notably facing Pakistan and the West Indies. However, he made only ten in his debut against a second-string Windies attack in 2001 and six in his last match, a humbling defeat by New Zealand.
He made more of a mark in limited overs cricket, representing his country in 150 ODIs. Two centuries came not against Bangladesh or the 'Associates' like Ireland or Canada but the mighty South Africa. His 107 not out at more than a run a ball came in a near impossible run chase five years ago, which ended just 28 runs short despite the attentions of Pollock, Ntini, Morkel and a young Philander. His next hundred was struck in a similar situation two years later, but again in a losing cause. Indeed, he enjoyed only 33 ODI victories, a third of them versus Bangladesh. In the famous triumph of Trent Bridge in 2003, he contributed only four runs and the dismissal of Michael Vaughan but it must have been a great day for the tiny 'keeper then aged barely 20.
Good luck to both African wicketkeeper-batsmen over the coming days, weeks and years. They have served their nations well and Boucher deserves to retire on his own terms, just as Taibu has done in his own unusual way.
Showing posts with label Mark Boucher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark Boucher. Show all posts
Monday, 9 July 2012
Monday, 5 March 2012
SA Face Life After Boucher
Whenever there's a lull in between big games, the media usually return to the favourite topic of 'should (so and so) retire/give up the captaincy..?'. In recent times, the subject has ranged between Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Graeme Smith, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and back to Tendulkar, ad infinitum. And it was ever thus. Once a batsman reached his late '30s, one bad series and thoughts inevitably drift towards fallibility and calling it a day before the selectors do it for you. The aforementioned world superstars have all suffered bad runs only for form to return miraculously and we all wonder why we ever doubted them. Form is temporary, class is permanent, right? However, age catches up with everyone at some point. Even the greatest players of all time lose their powers, otherwise Australia would have played Bradman into his nineties and the Windies eleven would still include Richards, Lloyd, Lara, Sobers, Holding, Garner and co. Actually, that wouldn't be such a bad idea!
However, some players just go on and on without anyone really questioning their right to a place in the Test team. They become simply part of the furniture, a comfy sofa which becomes a bit worn, out of shape yet continues to do the job. One such person is Mark Boucher, and the South African wicketkeeper has made the first move by hinting strongly at imminent retirement, probably after the England tour this summer.
Although only 35, he has played 144 Tests and 295 ODIs over the past 15 years, missing only a handful of five-day games in that period. His career has been extended by giving way to AB De Villiers in one-day formats but even a stubborn, competitive sportsman like Boucher knows that his time is nearly up. It's not just being negative. As he says, he is looking forward to spending Christmas at home with the family for the first time since the 1990s, and who can blame him? So what makes Boucher so special?
I wrote a few months ago about Boucher achieving his 500th Test catch, miles ahead of his nearest rival, but these days 'keepers are expected to be worth their place as a batsman, too, which is a tall order. The South African has five Test centuries to his name, which is fewer than Matt Prior and Kamran Akmal, yet he has kept his place through obstinate late order fifties and match-winning partnerships with top-order stars to win or save games. And presumably because there have been no obvious replacements. So who can follow such a class act?
A decade ago, Ian Healy was a similar long-standing 'keeper/batsman for Australia who had kept a certain Adam Gilchrist out of the side. Gilly went on to become one of the finest attacking batsman of the modern era, while also being a fine gloveman, too. The man who in 2004 briefly kept Boucher's seat in the side warm, Thami Tsolekile, has been given a central contract and must be in the running. At 31, he is no spring chicken but his glovework is apparently highly regarded, even if his batting record is less impressive: around 4500 first-class runs at under 30.
Boucher has spoken of his mentorship of Dane Vilas at the Cape Cobras. At 26, the Jo'burg right-hander is a superior batsman, averaging an excellent 45 and a century every five matches. He is also no mean player in one-dayers either, although I can't see AB giving up his place in ODIs just yet. What prevents Vilas becoming an automatic choice for the Test 'keeper spot is his ability behind the stumps but that could yet come to maturity. The third leading contender is Heino Kuhn. Like Vilas, he is a good strokemaker, whose century and 128 contributed to the Titans' record win in the final first-class match of the domestic season. At 27 he must be in his prime and has experience of international cricket, albeit in five T20Is, in which he made no impression at all with the bat.
It will be interesting to see who the selectors opt to take on the England tour alongside Mark Boucher. The incumbent would love to bow out in style. His Test average is a modest 30 but against England rises to almost 35. However, he failed to register a single half-century four years ago and it would be nice should he add some runs to his speed and athleticism behind the wicket this coming summer. If he doesn't, there is a queue of players waiting to take their chance at long last, to emerge from the shadow of one of the most formidable and respected Test players of the past twenty years.
However, some players just go on and on without anyone really questioning their right to a place in the Test team. They become simply part of the furniture, a comfy sofa which becomes a bit worn, out of shape yet continues to do the job. One such person is Mark Boucher, and the South African wicketkeeper has made the first move by hinting strongly at imminent retirement, probably after the England tour this summer.
Although only 35, he has played 144 Tests and 295 ODIs over the past 15 years, missing only a handful of five-day games in that period. His career has been extended by giving way to AB De Villiers in one-day formats but even a stubborn, competitive sportsman like Boucher knows that his time is nearly up. It's not just being negative. As he says, he is looking forward to spending Christmas at home with the family for the first time since the 1990s, and who can blame him? So what makes Boucher so special?
I wrote a few months ago about Boucher achieving his 500th Test catch, miles ahead of his nearest rival, but these days 'keepers are expected to be worth their place as a batsman, too, which is a tall order. The South African has five Test centuries to his name, which is fewer than Matt Prior and Kamran Akmal, yet he has kept his place through obstinate late order fifties and match-winning partnerships with top-order stars to win or save games. And presumably because there have been no obvious replacements. So who can follow such a class act?
A decade ago, Ian Healy was a similar long-standing 'keeper/batsman for Australia who had kept a certain Adam Gilchrist out of the side. Gilly went on to become one of the finest attacking batsman of the modern era, while also being a fine gloveman, too. The man who in 2004 briefly kept Boucher's seat in the side warm, Thami Tsolekile, has been given a central contract and must be in the running. At 31, he is no spring chicken but his glovework is apparently highly regarded, even if his batting record is less impressive: around 4500 first-class runs at under 30.
Boucher has spoken of his mentorship of Dane Vilas at the Cape Cobras. At 26, the Jo'burg right-hander is a superior batsman, averaging an excellent 45 and a century every five matches. He is also no mean player in one-dayers either, although I can't see AB giving up his place in ODIs just yet. What prevents Vilas becoming an automatic choice for the Test 'keeper spot is his ability behind the stumps but that could yet come to maturity. The third leading contender is Heino Kuhn. Like Vilas, he is a good strokemaker, whose century and 128 contributed to the Titans' record win in the final first-class match of the domestic season. At 27 he must be in his prime and has experience of international cricket, albeit in five T20Is, in which he made no impression at all with the bat.
It will be interesting to see who the selectors opt to take on the England tour alongside Mark Boucher. The incumbent would love to bow out in style. His Test average is a modest 30 but against England rises to almost 35. However, he failed to register a single half-century four years ago and it would be nice should he add some runs to his speed and athleticism behind the wicket this coming summer. If he doesn't, there is a queue of players waiting to take their chance at long last, to emerge from the shadow of one of the most formidable and respected Test players of the past twenty years.
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Boucher pouches number 500
On the day when Sachin Tendulkar passed 15,000 runs, it was easy to overlook another mammoth milestone achieved in Test cricket: South Africa's Mark Boucher took his 500th catch. The wicketkeeper seems to have been around forever, yet he is only 34. In the past 14 years he has represented his country 139 times, missing only 10 matches in that period. Indeed Boucher has become so synonymous with South Africa's + symbol that I had to delve into the record books to remind me who wore the gloves on a regular basis before him (Dave Richardson, as you ask).
It's not like any other 'keeper has come remotely close to taking 500 Test catches, the nearest being Adam Gilchrist with 379. Of course, Gilly had to wait a while before getting his chance in the great Aussie side because Ian Healy had been the incumbent for 119 Tests before him. Indeed, Healy ranks third in he all-time list, ahead of another Australian legend Rod Marsh and West Indies' Jeff Dujon. Boucher also has more than 400 ODI catches to his name, although AB De Villiers' superior batting firepower has tended to allow the man from East London to sit out all bar 25 T20 internationals.
Mark Boucher made his Test debut aged only 20 on South Africa's tour of Pakistan in 1997 but torrential rain meant he didn't take his first catch until the reciprocal tour the following February. Pakistan skipper Aamer Sohail was his first victim and he also contributed 78 with the bat. Today, Phil Hughes and Mike Hussey were added to the long list of batsmen who have seen 'c Boucher...' by their names on scorecards. Of course, wicketkeepers don't take catches without good bowlers serving up the ammunition, and Boucher has kept to some pretty formidable 'quicks'. I recently wrote about the line of pacemen for South Africa, focussing on Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and now Dale Steyn. However, Boucher has taken more catches (84) off the bowling of Mukhaya Ntini than any other team-mate, although the Lillee-Marsh pairing a few decades earlier yielded 95 .
Boucher seems to have prospered against England in particular, not only at home but away, too. Maybe that's because both South African and English pitches tend to favour seam or swing, much to the liking of Donald, Pollock, Ntini et al. However, he has a superior batting average against England, too, so it's about more than poor batting wickets. In an era boasting several superb wicketkeeper-batsmen, it can be easy to overlook the scoring record of the South Africa veteran. Sangakkara, Dhoni and Gilchrist have achieved great things with the bat but in Tests they have often been employed as specialist batsmen, only taking the gloves in limited over cricket. However, Boucher has so far scored more than 5000 runs in Tests, including five hundreds, at an average of over 30. OK, so even Matt Prior's average and century count are superior, but Boucher's fitness and superiority to any other of his rivals has contributed to an enviable longevity at the top of his profession.
He has a reputation for being a bit of a hard nut, a driven professional who plays to win, in the Aussie mould, but he has been a wonderful servant to South Africa and cricket generally, showing that an excellent gloveman is worth his weight in gold. It's not just about thrashing sixes - although he has hit twenty of them over the years. It's not beyond the realms of reality that Mark Boucher could reach the even dizzier heights of 600 catches, although 600 victims including stumpings may be more realistic. SA have not been renowned for spin bowling, which is why Boucher has successfully whipped off the bails a mere 22 times. However, with the likes of Steyn, Morkel and now Philander nipping the ball away from batsmen for fun in the next few years, who's to say more milestones can't be reached?
It's not like any other 'keeper has come remotely close to taking 500 Test catches, the nearest being Adam Gilchrist with 379. Of course, Gilly had to wait a while before getting his chance in the great Aussie side because Ian Healy had been the incumbent for 119 Tests before him. Indeed, Healy ranks third in he all-time list, ahead of another Australian legend Rod Marsh and West Indies' Jeff Dujon. Boucher also has more than 400 ODI catches to his name, although AB De Villiers' superior batting firepower has tended to allow the man from East London to sit out all bar 25 T20 internationals.
Mark Boucher made his Test debut aged only 20 on South Africa's tour of Pakistan in 1997 but torrential rain meant he didn't take his first catch until the reciprocal tour the following February. Pakistan skipper Aamer Sohail was his first victim and he also contributed 78 with the bat. Today, Phil Hughes and Mike Hussey were added to the long list of batsmen who have seen 'c Boucher...' by their names on scorecards. Of course, wicketkeepers don't take catches without good bowlers serving up the ammunition, and Boucher has kept to some pretty formidable 'quicks'. I recently wrote about the line of pacemen for South Africa, focussing on Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and now Dale Steyn. However, Boucher has taken more catches (84) off the bowling of Mukhaya Ntini than any other team-mate, although the Lillee-Marsh pairing a few decades earlier yielded 95 .
Boucher seems to have prospered against England in particular, not only at home but away, too. Maybe that's because both South African and English pitches tend to favour seam or swing, much to the liking of Donald, Pollock, Ntini et al. However, he has a superior batting average against England, too, so it's about more than poor batting wickets. In an era boasting several superb wicketkeeper-batsmen, it can be easy to overlook the scoring record of the South Africa veteran. Sangakkara, Dhoni and Gilchrist have achieved great things with the bat but in Tests they have often been employed as specialist batsmen, only taking the gloves in limited over cricket. However, Boucher has so far scored more than 5000 runs in Tests, including five hundreds, at an average of over 30. OK, so even Matt Prior's average and century count are superior, but Boucher's fitness and superiority to any other of his rivals has contributed to an enviable longevity at the top of his profession.
He has a reputation for being a bit of a hard nut, a driven professional who plays to win, in the Aussie mould, but he has been a wonderful servant to South Africa and cricket generally, showing that an excellent gloveman is worth his weight in gold. It's not just about thrashing sixes - although he has hit twenty of them over the years. It's not beyond the realms of reality that Mark Boucher could reach the even dizzier heights of 600 catches, although 600 victims including stumpings may be more realistic. SA have not been renowned for spin bowling, which is why Boucher has successfully whipped off the bails a mere 22 times. However, with the likes of Steyn, Morkel and now Philander nipping the ball away from batsmen for fun in the next few years, who's to say more milestones can't be reached?
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