Thami Tsolekile eager for opportunity to play for South Africa – Cricket News Update
Thami Tsolekile, who has been drafted into the South African squad as a replacement wicketkeeper after the abrupt retirement of Mark Boucher owing to injury, has admitted that while he may not get a chance to actually feature in the playing XI during the Test series against England, he is happy to be back in the team, and eager to grab any opportunities that come his way.
“I don't know if I will be keeping, I know I will be with the squad,” Tsolekile said. “If I do get the opportunity, I will take it with both hands. I am just happy to be back in the squad.”
Tsolekile received his recall to the national squad under unfortunate circumstances, after Boucher was forced to retire owing to the “severity” of an eye injury sustained during a warm-up match against Somerset. The veteran wicketkeeper was struck on the eye by a dislodged bail, and suffered a lacerated eyeball, which saw him undergoing a 3-hour surgery, and announcing his retirement the very next day, while admitting that his recovery was uncertain.
Tsolekile, who received his central contract in February this year, emerged as the prime choice to serve as a replacement for Boucher in the upcoming tour of England, which includes an all-important Test series, in addition to 5 ODIs and 3 T20Is.
However, head coach Gary Kirsten has confirmed that the wicketkeeping duties will be fulfilled by AB de Villiers in the first Test the two teams are due to play, at the Kennington Oval in London, leaving Tsolekile’s role in the team uncertain.
The 31-year-old’s international experience spans a total of three Tests for South Africa (played in 2004), although he has been a prominent figure in the domestic circuit, keeping for the Highveld Lions. He has played a total of 132 first-class matches and 125 List A matches during his 13-year career, and insisted that he had matured significantly, and was far more experienced as compared to the first time he played Test cricket.
“When I first played, I was only 23 years old but now I have lot of first-class games under my belt,” he pointed out. “I've been to England twice before, with the national side in 2004 and I've been there to play club cricket. It is a very tough place to tour but I've got some experience there.”
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