Former South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman, Mark Boucher was announced as South Africa’s head coach on Saturday as part of Cricket South Africa’s Director of cricket, Graeme Smith’s first action in his new role. Interim team director, Enoch Nkwe was appointed as Boucher’s assistant in the announcement.
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“I felt at this stage that the Proteas need a hardened guy with international experience, one who is very knowledgeable and tactically very sound, and we also know what qualities he has as a man,” Smith told the media. “We feel Enoch has a lot of qualities that will be very useful to Mark and it is a good opportunity for him to advance his own role in South African cricket going forward.”
Mark Boucher made his debut for South Africa in 1997 and went on to have a career spanning 15 years. He spent most of that time under the captaincy of Graeme Smith and the duo were known to be close friends during their time together.
Boucher brings along a wealth of experience to the role, having scored 10,769 runs in 467 international matches. He also holds the world record for most international dismissals by a wicket-keeper, having effected 998 of them across his South African career.
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The 43-year-old’s first action of business will be to oversee England’s upcoming tour of South Africa, comprising of four Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is. The tour is set to begin on Boxing Day with the Centurion Test and Boucher will have his task cut out.
South Africa recently returned from a tour to India with a sound thrashing, including two innings defeats in three Tests, by the host team, which currently sits atop the World Test Championship table. That performance came on the back of a horrible World Cup campaign, where the Proteas could not make the knockouts.
The confidence of the side is down, and they have seemingly taken the first step to restoring their lost glory by bringing back two of their greatest players. It remains to see whether it will be any good.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Marty Melville
