TSOLEKILE MAY HAVE TO WAIT
AB likely to take the gloves at Oval
IT’S UNLIKELY that wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile will play in the first cricket test against England at the Oval next week after he was named as a replacement for the injured Mark Boucher yesterday.
Tsolekile, 31, was added to the touring party after Boucher suffered a career-ending eye injury in a match against Somerset at Taunton at the weekend.
Boucher announced his retirement from cricket after a bail lacerated his left eye. He had surgery and returned to South Africa yesterday.
Even though Tsolekile will be the only specialist wicketkeeper in the squad, parttime keeper AB de Villiers is likely to wear the gloves against England at the Oval.
A Cricket South Africa official questioned the description of De Villiers as a part-time wicketkeeper, describing him as a wicketkeeper. It’s a clear indication the team is positioning De Villiers to play as the test keeper, which will allow for another specialist batsman in the starting XI.
“The squad and members of the touring party are selected by the selection panel convened by Andrew Hudson,” said team manager Mohammed Moosajee.
“But when it comes to choosing the team for the tests the selector on tour, in this case Andrew Hudson, and coach Gary Kirsten will select the team for the match.”
When asked whether the need for a specialist keeper was paramount given the dangerous nature of the job in light of Boucher’s misfortune, Moosajee was noncommittal.
“You could argue that cricket is a dangerous game and anyone facing a bowler at 150km/h could sustain an injury,” he said.
Tsolekile played two tests for the Proteas against India in November 2004 and one against England that December when Boucher was dropped for the only time in his career.