Mark Boucher, South Africa head coach, has already set his sights on a home series against India, aiming to make significant strides against them. India will begin their all-format sojourn of South Africa from the 17th of December, starting with the three-match Test series.
India will visit South Africa for the first time since early 2018, when they completed a reasonably successful tour. Although Virat Kohli-led India won the ODI and T20 series convincingly, they lost the Test series like in the previous tours. However, the visitors would be high on confidence after conquering Australia and England.
Mark Boucher Expects A Good Challenging Test Awaits Them While Playing India For The First Time Since 2018
Mark Boucher doesn’t expect South Africa to enjoy a perfect series against India, which is a vastly improved side overseas highlighted by back-to-back Test series win Down Under. But, highlighting the Proteas as an improving side with a few loopholes, Mark Boucher hopes to create something special to mention about.
“Unscathed is a particularly interesting word to use, but we’re playing an India team at home that’s up there with the world’s best. If you look at where we are as a Test group, we’re still growing and we’re still trying to find our feet with certain positions. It’s going to be a good challenge and a good test for us. We did well in the West Indies, but we haven’t played a Test at home in a while.”
‘It’s not about getting unscathed, but going out there with an opportunity to do something special and beat India. If we don’t, we’ll obviously learn the lessons and come out as a better cricket team,” the 44-year old said.
India came close in 2006-07 in South Africa, drew in 2010-11, followed by losing in 2013-14 and the 2017-18 leg. However, their recent progress gives them the best chance to record their maiden Test series on South African soil. The progress comes made through an aggressive captain, a terrific bowling unit, and magnificent depth.
The India cricket team is scheduled to tour South Africa in December 2021 and January 2022 to play three Tests, three ODIs, and four T20Is. The Test matches will form part of the 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship.
Mark Boucher Emphasized Need To Win ODI Series Against The Netherlands
Mark Boucher emphasized the need to win the upcoming ODI leg against the Netherlands. But he stressed not wanting to shift his focus from the high-voltage Test series against India.
“The focus has shifted to the Netherlands because there are games there that we need to win in order to qualify for the World Cup. However, we can’t look past the very important Test series against India, from where there’s the white ball stuff against India,” Boucher added.
The Proteas’ 2021 T20 World Cup campaign ended as they were eliminated despite winning four out of five games. Temba Bavuma and co. exited the competition based on an inferior net run rate. Mark Boucher, the South Africa head coach, said missing out on the semi-finals of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 due to an inferior net run rate was a bitter pill to swallow.
Wayne Parnell last played for South Africa in the 2017 Champions Trophy. However, he earned a South Africa call-up after more than four years. Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed the same by naming him in the 16-man squad for the three-match ODI series against the Netherlands.
Keshav Maharaj will lead the 16-man team with many prominent players, including regular skipper Temba Bavuma resting for the series. Khaya Zondo, Zubayr Hamza, and Ryan Rickelton are the other notable inclusions in the national team. The three-match ODI series against the Netherlands starts on the 26th of November and concludes on 1st December.
South Africa’s squad for the home ODI series against the Netherlands: Keshav Maharaj (captain), Daryn Dupavillon, Zubayr Hamza, Reeza Hendricks, Sisanda Magala, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Wayne Parnell, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams, Khaya Zondo