Kevin Pietersen Backs Mark Boucher for South Africa’s Coaching Job
Aug 6, 2019 at 9:37 AM
With Cricket South Africa (CSA) settling for the dynamic changes, the board has released Ottis Gibson, whose term will expire in September, former England batsman Kevin Pietersen concedes that veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Mark Boucher is the man to look at in the crisis.
The star batsman Pietersen further reiterated that Boucher is the best fit in terms of replacing Gibson as a chief coach. Interestingly, Boucher had played a significant role for domestic team Titans by winning them five trophies in three years.
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Also, Pietersen maintained Boucher is capable of taking out Proteas out of trouble.
Faf du Plessis-led side had a tough time in England:
The CSA had decided that Windies veteran will not be considered for the extension period after Faf du Plessis-led South Africa had finished second last on the ICC World Cup 2019 points table owing to the league fixtures of World Cup.
Also, the report suggested that Gibson had revealed that CSA has put forth some conditions for his extension period. Also, one of the terms was regarding the title victory for the Proteas team.
However, South Africa had done thoroughly well in the Test fold. They have beaten Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh and India which also saw them losing a solitary Test. Also, they lost to India apart from thrashing Sri Lanka, Australia, and Bangladesh, respectively.
Apart from Gibson, CSA had decided against the renewing of contract for the support staff. Thus, assistant coach, Malibongwe Maketa, batting coach Dale Benkenstein, spin bowling coach Claude Henderson and fielding coach, Justin Ontong were also released from the respective post.
As of now, by going to the reforms, the CSA has appointed Corrie van Zyl as an interim Director of Cricket.
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Zyl’s job is to consider things regarding the coaching staff with Proteas facing India in the three-match T20Is in September. Also, the top two teams will face off in the three-match Test series which will get underway in October.
Kevin Pietersen hails Mark Boucher:
Meanwhile, Pietersen is vocal about Boucher’s record-setting spree. He claimed Boucher is the one who could turnaround things for Proteas cricket.
“Cricket South Africa sack Otis Gibson & his whole backroom staff. There is only ONE man who can turn their cricket around – @markb46!. He has trophies, he’s respected around the world & he’s an absolute beaut of a human! “Do the right thing, Corrie Van Zyl!,” Pietersen wrote on Twitter. “
https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1157978289929170949?s=20
Boucher, who had a forced retirement due to an eye injury, had represented South Africa in 295 ODIs, 147 Tests and 25 T20Is. He had also featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to feature in 31 matches.
The 42-year-old Boucher had represented South Africa between 1997 and 2011.