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Mark Boucher

MARK Boucher’s Test career seems set to be handed one last lifeline when the Proteas tour party to New Zealand is announced later this week.

Boucher’s future was a hotly debated topic during the recent Sri Lankan series, with calls for the 144-capped veteran gloveman’s head reaching vociferous levels after a couple of spilled chances in successive Tests over the festive season.

And despite prolific batting from Boucher’s Cape Cobras understudy, Dane Vilas, and the consistency of Thami Tsolekile at the Highveld Lions on the domestic circuit, the selectors are hoping the record-breaking wicket-keeper finds some form ahead of the blue-chip England series later this year.

It is a well-known fact that the Proteas team management, headed by coach Gary Kirsten, and the selectors are keen to have a vastly experienced squad for the England tour, with Boucher hopefully playing an integral part of the planning for that series. Continuing the theme of experience, Andrew Hudson and Co are set to recall another “old hand” in Justin Ontong to the Proteas one-day and Twenty20 squads for New Zealand. South Africa play three T20s and three ODIs, in addition to the three Tests.

Ontong, 32, has been in the international wilderness since 2009, having last played a Twenty20 against Australia at Centurion.

However, during this period the classy right-hander, who controversially made his Test debut a decade ago already at the Sydney Cricket Ground, has honed his technique, and more importantly, his temperament at the Cobras.

This new-found calmness at the crease has translated into a bucketful of runs for the Paarl resident. It has not also only been consigned to one format either, with 364 at 72.80 being scored in this season’s 1-Day Cup, while a further 612 runs at 76.50 have flowed from Ontong’s bat in the SuperSport Series. There was much debate whether Ontong would actually even surpass his Cobras teammate JP Duminy as the “back up” Test batsman after Ashwell Prince appears to be overlooked completely.

It seems the end is nigh for the left-handed Prince, after he was dropped for the final Test against Sri Lanka and faces a tough battle to earn a recall, especially after Jacques Rudolph scored an unbeaten half-century at No 6 in the final home Test against Sri Lanka.

But the selectors have not only placed their trust in proven first-class performers. Young Titans tearaway Marchant de Lange will have another opportunity to continue his growth at the highest level after a spectacular debut Test in Durban last year. The 20-year-old made a devastating impact at Kingsmead, claiming 7/81, before being dropped for the return of Vernon Philander for the series-decider at Newlands.

The 15-man Proteas Test squad is likely to be Cobras-laden, with seven Capetonians filling up the contingent. Left-armer Robin Peterson will most likely too join the likes of Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Boucher, Philander, Dale Steyn and JP Duminy as the second spinner alongside Imran Tahir. .

Likely Proteas Test squad:

Graeme Smith, Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Jacques Rudolph, Mark Boucher, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Lowabo Tsotsobe, Robin Peterson.

Likely Proteas ODI squad:

Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Justin Ontong, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Lowabo Tsotsobe, Robin Peterson, Wayne Parnell.