Mark Boucher Sledging a Zim batsman

While I was searching YouTube for the video of Sulieman Benn Vs Brad Haddin, I found this video of Mark Boucher giving it to a Zimbabwean batsman. I’m not sure what ‘Tendai’ chirped to get this abuse, but it’s really funny.

New players in the Proteas side

Cricket South Africa on Friday named Ryan McLaren and Heino Kuhn as new caps in their various limited overs squads for the series against Zimbabwe and England.

McLaren, has been included in the ODI squad for the two-match MTN series against Zimbabwe as well as the first three matches of the MTN series against England and the two Standard Bank Pro20 Internationals.

This is one of three changes to the Proteas’ Standard Bank ODI squad. McLaren takes the place of Robin Peterson while two long-serving Proteas’ players, Herschelle Gibbs and Makhaya Ntini, drop out to make room for Alviro Petersen and Charl Langeveldt. Loots Bosman also makes a comeback to the Proteas’ squad for the Pro20 series.

The omission of Herschelle Gibbs means that Jacques Kallis will be used as an opening batsman in the ODI’s, according to the convenor of selectors for the South African team, Mike Procter.

Kuhn, a wicketkeeper-batsman from the Nashua Titans franchise, gets his chance in the 20 overs format of the game for the two Standard Bank Pro20 Internationals against England. I’d suggest that Kuhn has been selected as the under study to Mark Boucher as approaches his 33^rd birthday on 3 December.

The selectors have also named the two South Africa A sides to play against England. There are interesting captaincy choices in Hashim Amla and Justin Ontong while Rilee Rossouw and CJ de Villiers have both been rewarded for their outstanding performances in the Champions’ League tournament.

Proteas Suads:

Proteas’ Standard Bank ODI squad: Graeme Smith (Nashua Cape Cobras, capt), Hashim Amla (Nashua Dolphins), Johan Botha (Chevrolet Warriors), Mark Boucher (Chevrolet Warriors), AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans), JP Duminy (Nashua Cape Cobras), Jacques Kallis (Chevrolet Warriors), Charl Langeveldt (Nashua Cape Cobras), Ryan McLaren (Diamond Eagles), Albie Morkel (Nashua Titans), Wayne Parnell (Chevrolet Warriors), Alviro Petersen (bizhub Highveld Lions), Dale Steyn (Nashua Titans), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Chevrolet Warriors), Roelof van der Merwe (Nashua Titans).

Proteas’ Standard Bank Pro20 squad: Graeme Smith (Nashua Cape Cobras, capt), Yusuf Abdulla (Nashua Dolphins), Loots Bosman (Nashua Dolphins), Johan Botha (Chevrolet Warriors), Mark Boucher (Chevrolet Warriors), AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans), JP Duminy (Nashua Cape Cobras), Jacques Kallis (Chevrolet Warriors), Heino Kuhn (Nashua Titans), Charl Langeveldt (Nashua Cape Cobras), Ryan McLaren (Diamond Eagles), Albie Morkel (Nashua Titans), Wayne Parnell (Chevrolet Warriors), Dale Steyn (Nashua Titans), Roelof van der Merwe (Nashua Titans).

South Africa wins a nail-biter at the bull ring

Mark Boucher and Albie Morkel put on a world class batting performance to help South Africa to victory by four wickets with four balls to spare in the first Standard Bank Pro20 international against Australia at Liberty Life Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday. Earlier in the evening, the Australians posted 166/7 with more than half those runs coming from the bat of David Hussey. Australia were in deep trouble in the 10th over; they were 71/5 as a result of the failure of four of the top six Australian batsmen not reaching double figures.

Hussey was in total control as he raced to 88 runs off 44 balls while the rest of the Australian team crumbled. Hussey got hold of Dale Steyn in the 18th and 20th over, smashing him for 32 runs.

South Africa started slow with Amla and Gibbs opening the batting, the pressure of a climbing run rate took its toll as the batsmen tried to engineer run scoring shots. The regular fall of wickets put South Africa in a spot of trouble and by the 15th over  they needed 62 runs with five batsmen already back in the dugout.

At one point The Proteas needed 12 runs per over and it didn’t look like a victory for South Africa was on the cards; enter the explosive Albie Morkel and the ever cool Mark Boucher. The experience of Mark Boucher ensured the run rate picked up, with the now established ODI and Pro20 player Albie Morkel at the other end hitting a match winning 37 off 19 balls.

Liberty Life Wanderers was packed to capacity; the expectant crowd as vocal as ever as in every encounter between the home side and the Australians at the bull ring. The spectacular turn out was a fantastic advertisement for local cricket and the upcoming IPL to be hosted in South Africa. Not even a short interruption from the lights going out could put a dampener on the event.

We look forward to another great game at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday afternoon.