Mark Boucher Reflects On South Africa's Performance After T20I Defeat Against Australia

South Africa’s coach Mark Boucher reflected back on his team’s performance after they were handed a defeat in the first T20I of the three-match series versus Australia at home. Speaking after the match, Boucher also said that there are opportunities available in the Proteas squad but players need to take them up.

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The visitors thrashed home side by a margin of 107 runs. This, after they had already lost the previous T20I series and Test series versus England. The mood in the South African camp certainly won’t be happy.

However, Boucher sought to “take the emotion out of the whole scenario” and look at the bigger picture.

In the first T20I on Friday, Australia batting first scored 196 runs at the loss of six wickets in their 20 overs. The Proteas, however, could muster up just 89 runs in reply, courtesy of Aussie bowler Ashton Agar’s five-wicket haul.

Well, 89 is South Africa’s lowest-ever score in T20I history, and it pretty much sums up their fortunes lately. Boucher though was willing to look past as these setbacks, as he builds up the squad ahead of the T20 World Cup later this year.

Mark Boucher wants his players to ‘put their hands up’ and start taking opportunities:

The 43-year-old coach while speaking about players’ performance against Australia, admitted that there are opportunities available in the team, ahead of the World Cup, which should be taken.

Boucher was quoted by ESPN Cricinfo as saying, “There are certain places up for grabs and with guys getting opportunities, it’s important that they take them now. A month or so before the World Cup we want to have our minds on who we want to take as a 15-man squad but it’s difficult for players to make a name for themselves a month before the tournament.”

He continued, “Now is the time that players need to put their hands up and stake a claim for positions and there are still position up for grabs. We don’t quite know what our combinations are going to be and we are waiting for guys to step up.”

Reflecting back on the demoralising defeat the hands of Australia, the South African coach said that despite the defeat, his team are on the right track.

“It’s not the end of the world – losing one game of T20 cricket,” Boucher said. “Yes, we are going to have to shape up quite a bit in the next week but there is also a plan going through to the next World Cup.”

The Proteas’ next match with Australia is on Sunday, at St. George’s Oval.

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