Boucher on how WTC win could change test cricket in South Africa as the Proteas look to come full circle at Lords.
South Africa’s ability to compete in the highest levels of world cricket was demonstrated by their advancement to the World Test Championship (WTC) final, but former national coach Mark Boucher believes that winning it might usher in a completely new era.
“A lot of people have criticised South Africa, which is not really fair,” Boucher told ESPNcricinfo during the IPL. “You play what’s in front of you and with all due respect, the sides that we’ve played against, we probably should have beaten and we’ve done that. So we find ourselves in a final. But I wouldn’t say that it has got the crowds going in our country. Everyone’s very excited about it now as the opportunity arises, a lot of people are going to travel over to London, spend all their Rands and go watch what should be a good match. If we win it, I think then that could be the turnaround for Test cricket in our country.”
Boucher’s remarks address those (like Michael Vaughan) who have argued that South Africa’s path to the final was too simple because they avoided Australia and England, but it was the FTP’s design. Additionally, it blames the South African people, whose faith in their team has waned following decades of semi-final failures and, most recently, losing three consecutive T20 World Cup finals (two women’s and one men’s). Do they believe South Africa can win the WTC?
“We’re playing for a trophy, so I guess a lot of people are saying no [we can’t win] but I think it’s a different feel in Test match cricket,” he said. “It’s played over a longer period of time and you’ve just got to win big moments in the game as well. Yes, there will be that tag [chokers] that gets thrown our way until we win a trophy. You’re not going to get rid of the tag. Is it deserving on these youngsters coming through? No, it’s almost like they’re carrying the burden of what happened in previous years, which is always going to be tough on them but they’re the ones in control of their futures at the moment.”