Former Proteas wicket-keeper Mark Boucher says the “time is right for me to give back to the game that gave me such a lot” after he was appointed as the new head coach of the Titans on Monday.
Boucher takes over from Rob Walter, who will relocate to New Zealand to coach Otago for the next few years after guiding to the Titans to the Sunfoil Series and RamSlam T20 titles last season.
The 39-year-old Boucher is somewhat of a surprise choice as the head coach as he hasn’t had much experience in such a role since he hung up his gloves in 2012, following a freakish injury in England when a bail struck his eye.
Boucher hasn’t really been part of the cricket scene since then as he took a self-enforced break, as he dedicated much of his public time to rhino anti-poaching and conservation initiatives.
He acknowledged his lack of coaching experience during a press conference at the Titans’ home ground SuperSport Park in Centurion on Monday, but in typically fighting spirit, he is ready for the challenge. “Obviously I haven’t been a coach before, but it’s something that I’m really looking forward to. It’s a challenge personally as well, and coming to the Titans set-up, I do understand that they are a very successful franchise with a lot of fantastic players, a lot of Protea players,” Boucher said.
“I always said I wanted to give myself a nice break away from the game (after retiring). I had been committed to the game for over 20 years, and I wasn’t completely away – I was involved in a couple of little things, commentary and the odd coaching experience.
“But this is obviously a permanent job, and I think the time now is right for me to give back to the game that gave me such a lot. I feel that I’ve had my break and got involved in other things that were very passionate to me. But now’s the time to move forward.”
Boucher had a stint as a consultant for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL this year, and was also brought into the Proteas set-up for a few days ahead of the current first Test against New Zealand at Kingsmead in Durban, where he worked with wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock and also the lower-order batsmen.
In a glittering Proteas career that spanned from 1997 to 2012, Boucher played in 147 Tests, 295 ODIs and 25 T20 internationals, and he is hoping to utilise all those years of experience to maintain and improve a Titans squad filled with top-class players such as captain Henry Davids, Heino Kuhn and Qaasim Adams, as well as Proteas like AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Farhaan Behardien and Tabraiz Shamsi.
“I don’t know (what his coaching style is). It’s difficult to say as it hasn’t really started yet. I have been very fortunate to be under a lot of coaches, a lot of successful coaches. And I picked up a lot of experience through my playing career,” Boucher said.
“I’d like to think that I am a lot more mature as a person now as well. In pressure situations, I can be nice and calm, and assertive as well. I think I will have my own way of coaching, so it’s difficult for me to compare who I’m going to be like. I think that’s a good thing.
“So ja, there are going to be challenges along the way, and I am working with a fantastic group of individuals who are very talented as well. It is just to create an environment where they can showcase their skills and perform at their best.”
Titans chief executive Jacques Faul said that despite a short-list being drawn up, Boucher was the only candidate who was interviewed for the post. He admitted that the new coach didn’t have any real experience in a similar position before, but that Boucher is “what the squad needs at this stage”.
“Mark is the calibre of person that can not just win us trophies, but could also develop our players to become Proteas, which is also very important to us. We had very good applications, so it comes down to who would be the right person for the current space we are in. And we ended up with Mark,” Faul said.
“We were looking for somebody that’s credible when standing in front of a squad that’s done very well in the past. I don’t think you get the complete person that’s done all his levels, coached for 20 years and played for 20 years, because then you are too old.
“Mark definitely has the cricket side of it, and we have a programme of developing him as a manager and coach. But we think definitely he is a natural leader and this is what the squad needs at this stage.”
Titans captain Henry Davids added that Boucher “could almost be an X-factor to push us even more” following the success of last season, suggesting that a squad filled with experienced franchise cricketers needed a character such as Boucher, who would be more in tuned with what the players want than a disciplinarian or experienced coach who would implement a “top-down” kind of culture.
While Boucher certainly doesn’t have the strict coaching experience for the job, his mere presence as a former Proteas stalwart is sure to inspire the Titans, especially those knocking on the door of national selection, such as Kuhn and Shamsi, to take the next step.
And credit also to Boucher for availing himself to get involved in developing South African cricket instead of being one of those disgruntled former players who criticises from the sidelines.
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