Reports | Mark Boucher to take over from Enoch Nkwe as South Africa team director
Former wicketkeeper batsman Mark Boucher is set to take over from Enoch Nkwe as South Africa men's team director on Saturday. The decision, which has been welcomed in some quarters only, will be made official by former captain Graeme Smith at his first press conference as acting director of cricket.
Since August 2016, Boucher has coached the Titans to a first-class title and two one-day and T20 trophies, while Nkwe won the 2018-19 first-class and T20 championships with the Highveld Lions, before guiding the Jozi Stars to the title in the inaugural edition of the Mzansi Super League last year. Given the near-equal level of coaching experience, some have raised the objection that perhaps race has played a part in Boucher, who is white, taking over the mantle, while Nkwe is expected to be named his assistant.
It can be argued that Boucher is vastly more experienced at the international level in terms of actual match experience. Boucher has played 147 Tests, 295 ODIs, and 25 T20Is for South Africa, while Nkwe, who scored a century in his debut first-class innings, was hampered throughout his career by injury. According to Cricbuzz, Jacques Kallis will join the duo as a batting consultant.
The recent appointments — including Smith's for three months — has been heralded as the first step towards South Africa's recovery from a slew of problems on and off the field. A poor World Cup earlier this year has been followed by several board members being removed or resigning from their roles over governance issues. Nkwe’s cause was further hurt by the hammering loss at the hands of a dominant Indian side last month.
While the eight remaining members of the board have been summoned for a meeting with Nathi Mthethwa, the minister of sport, on Thursday, Boucher and Co. will prepare the team for the four-match Test series against England, starting at Centurion on December 26.