<p class="x_x_x_news-body"><strong>Mark Boucher still in our thoughts, says Jacques Kallis – Cricket News Update</strong></p>
<p class="x_x_x_news-body">South Africa’s ace all-rounder, Jacques Kallis, is delighted after the victory against England in the Oval Test, but remembers his ex-teammate, Mark Boucher, on the historic occasion and said that the former wicketkeeper/batsman is
still in the team’s thoughts.</p>
<p class="x_x_x_news-body">Boucher came to England hoping to finish his illustrious career on a high, but that was not to be, because of a career-ending injury, which the keeper faced during a tour match against Somerset earlier this month.</p>
<p class="x_x_x_news-body">The keeper was struck by a dislodged bail on his eye, which resulted in a serious surgery and forced the cricketer from Cape Province to call it a day from international sport.</p>
<p class="x_x_x_news-body">AB de Villiers, the middle-order batsman, kept wickets for the Proteas in the first Test, although Thami Tsolekile was called up as Boucher’s replacement. The visitors won the match by an emphatic margin of an innings and 12 runs
to go 1-0 up in the series.</p>
<p class="x_x_x_news-body">Kallis, who played alongside the wicketkeeper for more than a decade, expressed his grief over his friend’s absence, but said that Boucher’s injury motivated the team to deliver the goods in the on-going tour.</p>
<p class="x_x_x_news-body">"It's sad what happened to Mark and it was unfair to have his career end like that," Kallis said. "He played a big role in this side. In his special way, he is [still] playing a role in this side. The guys feel for him and wish that
he was here. He's still got an impact."</p>
<p class="x_x_x_news-body">The great all-rounder, who has not done that well in England historically, rose to the occasion in the Oval Test and smashed a wonderful hundred without getting dismissed and helped his team take a lead in the series. Upon completing
the century, Kallis signaled towards the dressing room and dedicated his knock to his former colleague.</p>
<p class="x_x_x_news-body">The 36-year-old added, "It was just my way of letting of him know that he is still very much in our thoughts. It was sad to see a mate go out like that but it was to show we are thinking of him and hope that things go well."</p>
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