Proteas
Boucher's batting worries SA
2011-11-23 07:55
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Mark Boucher (Gallo Images)
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Cape Town - Proteas wicketkeeper
Mark Boucher's spot in the Test side could be in jeopardy if his poor form with the bat continues.
WIN Beer for a YearBoucher was his reliable self behind the stumps in the recently concluded Test series against Australia, but his form with the willow was below-par.
The 34-year-old could only muster scores of 4, 3 and 13 in the two-Test series which was drawn 1-1 after Australia won the second Test by two wickets at the Wanderers on Monday.
Boucher has struggled with his batting the whole year, only amassing 92 runs at an average of 15.33 in five Test matches.
While acknowledging Boucher's brilliance behind the stumps, Proteas coach
Gary Kirsten feels the keeper must also play his part with the bat.
"Mark is a hardened international player and as far as I'm concerned he's still the best behind the stumps.This part of his play was exceptional in the series (against Australia)," Kirsten told the
Beeld newspaper.
"To reach the twilight of such a remarkable career is often a tough place to be - and Mark knows it. It happens to every player and I also struggled with it during my playing days.
"We all would like to see him firing on all cylinders again because the No 7 spot in the batting order is a very important one.
"It's not necessary for me or anybody else to tell him that he needs to improve his batting, because he knows it," said Kirsten.