Mark Boucher dropped from South Africa squad
Mark Boucher who has long been a permanent fixture in the South African team for more then a decade, has finally been left out of the south African Squad for Limited overs, AB de Villiers will keep wicket for South Africa, in the T20 and One Day internationals during Proteas first half of the tour of West Indies.
Boucher’s career had been in question when Devilliers made his debut, as Boucher had been struggling for form those days, and he was dropped from the side briefly, but the valiant fighter made his way back into the team, with some sterling performances in the domestic scene, but now at the age of 33 it looks like his time has finally come, and Devilliers who has been a wicketkeeper for his domestic team will be taking Boucher’s place behind the stumps.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith, said that the new selection committee is looking for long term plans, and Devilliers keeping instead of Boucher will give the team more flexibility and options. The new selection Panel that is headed by the former test opener Andrew Hudson is insistent that Boucher has had his time, now we need to move on. However Boucher will still be part of the test team.
South African Captain Graeme Smith said: "AB will be starting with the gloves in the limited-overs matches," “have something like 15 ODIs before we get to India for the World Cup, so we have to make every one of them count."
Boucher, who is now 33, has been almost permanent part of South Africa’s first team, in all formats. Ever since making his debut in 1997, and has appeared in 291 ODIs, 131 test matches, and 25 T-20s. Smith believes Boucher’s experience will be missed, but rest of the team should be able to make up for that.
"When a guy [like Boucher] has played over 300 ODIs you are always going to miss that experience. He has been a talisman of the side for a long period of time now. He has been part of a core group of senior players who have performed regularly," Smith said. "The selectors have taken the decision now to look ahead at some new options, and certainly having AB keep allows you one or two extra options in the line-up. Andrew Hudson has arrived here today and we will sit down together and select the team for the game."
Smith while also looking back at the recently concluded t-20 world cup said, it was simply disappointing, the fact that South Africa did not even manage to make it to the semi finals is simply unacceptable and that is the reason that the board and the team are trying to try new things to restructure the side in time for the 2011 world cup, before which South Africa will have only 15 ODIs to play.
South Africa takes on West Indies in 2 t-20 matches, followed by a 5 match ODI, and 3 match Test Series.
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