We need to regroup after the Mark Boucher incident, says http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GC-Smith-c1473 – Cricket News Update
Graeme Smith, the South African Test captain, is depressed to have lost http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MV-Boucher-c2048 in an unfortunate manner but urged his team to regroup ahead of the first Test, which starts at the Oval on July 19.
The legendary wicketkeeper/batsman was struck with a career-ending blow on the first day of South Africa’s side match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Somerset-c843 on Monday.
The 35-year-old has been a great servant for Proteas’ cricket and has been an integral part of the Test squad over the years. At the twilight of the record-breaking keeper’s career, no cricket fan would have expected Boucher to go down in such a sad fashion.
The South African skipper was all praise for the former player and said that Boucher was an extra-ordinary human being, apart from an exceptional player. Smith and the whole team hopes for the wicketkeeper’s quick recovery.
"We all know what he's meant to us as a person and his stats speak for themselves," http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Smith-c90598 said. "If you add that to the type of person he is, he will go down as one of the greats of the game. We are more worried about Mark the person and getting him through
this situation."
The upcoming series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 is the most important battle for the ‘Rainbow Nation’, as a victory will earn them the top ranking in international sport for the very first time. The Proteas will have to be at their very best in each department to dismantle
the home team, which is in sublime form at the moment.
The left-handed batsman admitted that his team is mentally jolted after the incident and the players are finding it hard to focus on the game. Smith however, expressed that the only way his team can pay tribute to the outgoing keeper is by winning the series.
"We are people first and cricketers second, so there's naturally going to be emotion around this subject. We need to deal with the emotion initially and build to the first Test. That's our goal and that's how Mark Boucher would have played the game," the
South African captain added.
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