Mark Boucher is the current coach of the South African cricket team. But it is his legacy as a player that really stands out. When we think of batting records, it’s Sachin Tendulkar. Bowling accolades bring us to Muttiah Muralitharan. Now when it comes to keeping, whom do we look to? None other than Boucher.
998 international dismissals. Yes, the highest by any keeper across formats. His career ended with an eye injury. No doubt he would have gone past 1000 if he had stayed on. Lethal behind the stumps and just as deadly with the bat, Boucher is a legend.
Between 1997 and 2012 he was possibly the best keeper in the world. Adam Gilchrist of course gives him a run for his money and MS Dhoni and Kumar Sangakkara are the ones who can be compared with him. But if one has to see the man who made keeping an art-form, one needs to look no further than Boucher.
He came at the right time for South Africa. Dave Richardson was getting old and a suitable replacement was needed. Enter Boucher. Not just the gloves, he has proved himself to be handy with the bat too. Be it having to finish and innings, play the sheet anchor role or just go hammer and tongs at the bowling, he could do it all. In fact, while he was still at the crease, the opposition could not afford to relax. Those who did paid the price dearly.
Diving catches, super fast stumpings, superb alertness to create a run out or sheer intimidation by word of mouth, Boucher could build pressure at will on the opposition. When he batted his strokeplay could unsettle the bowlers quickly which would leave the fielders wondering where to stand.
An all-time great whose shoes are hard to fill for anyone. His legacy shall be of the man who kept the batsmen on their toes behind the stumps at all time.
