Former South Africa batter and coach Mark Boucher believes it’s time to leave the “chokers” tag in the past. As the Proteas gear up for the ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia, Boucher said this new-look side should not be burdened by labels tied to past heartbreaks.
Speaking to ESPN, Boucher reflected on South Africa’s recent near-misses — most notably their T20 World Cup final loss to India — and stressed that it would be unfair to brand the current squad with a term rooted in history.
“We’re playing for a trophy, so I guess a lot of people are saying no [we can’t win] but I think it’s a different feel in Test match cricket. It’s played over a longer period of time and you’ve just got to win big moments in the game as well,” Boucher told ESPNcricinfo.
“Yes, there will be that tag [chokers] that gets thrown our way until we win a trophy. You’re not going to get rid of the tag. Is it deserving on these youngsters coming through? No, it’s almost like they’re carrying the burden of what happened in previous years, which is always going to be tough on them but they’re the ones in control of their futures at the moment,” he added.
South Africa’s much-anticipated clash with Pat Cummins’ Australia begins on June 11. For Temba Bavuma’s men, it presents not just an opportunity to win their first ICC title in over two decades, but also to set a fresh narrative for Test cricket in a nation traditionally known for its white-ball dominance.
