16 key quotes from Mark Boucher's book

Cricket365 19 Nov 2013

In Mark Boucher's new book, he speaks about topics ranging from cricketing to the political to the humorous. Here are some stand-out quotes.

Former South Africa wicketkeeper MarkBoucher's book, 'Bouch: Through my eyes' is a behind-the-scenes account of his career at the forefront of the Proteas' rise to the world's best Test side.

In it, he speaks about topics ranging from cricketing to the political to the humorous. Here are some stand-out quotes.

1. On walking off the field after his eye injury in Taunton: "The shock was setting in. Suddenly it was like my legs had been cut off and I'd been shot by a sniper at the same time. I could feel nothing below my waist, let alone in my feet. I dropped to the ground like a brick."

2. On being told he wasn't good enough by a senior team-mate: "'I don't know how you got into this side,' he started, 'but Nic Pothas is a far better cricketer than you.' He went on to tell me that I wouldn't last the tour and that in two months' time I'd be lucky to get a job selling second-hand cars in East London."

3. On the records he broke: "I was paid to catch the ball, finish run outs and make stumpings. If you do your job well, and for long enough, you will break records. If you chase them, you are missing the point entirely."

4. On the best batsman in the world: "Lara was the best batsman I ever saw. When he was at the crease there was always a danger of the game getting away from us – even if he was with the number 11."

5. On Kallis' reputation and avoiding the spotlight: "If he had Shane Warne's personality, perhaps, then people wouldn't even debate who was the best all-rounder in cricket history. But, then, he wouldn't be Jacques Kallis."

6. On England batsman Kevin Pietersen: "I've never had a problem with KP; I respect him for everything he has done. He emigrated and changed loyalties for professional reasons, and he's done brilliantly. He made some comments about South African cricket as a young man, which he regrets, but he's grown up. He is South African and always will be."

7. On former Proteas coach Mickey Arthur: "His technical knowledge may not have been the greatest, but he more than made up for that with his man-management skills, which were outstanding. And he was never afraid to tackle his shortcomings."

8. On Graeme Smith batting with a broken hand against Australia in 2008/9: "There was a ripple effect around the SCG, everybody standing and applauding. What a sight. What a feeling. Three years earlier they had booed and jeered him. Now they were applauding him every step of the way. None of us will ever forget that."

9. On Hansie Cronje: "He was a good captain and a very good leader of men. Are we supposed to pretend that he wasn't?"

10. On Makhaya Ntini, who played 101 Tests for SA: "Sometimes I thought about the pressure and weight of expectation that Makhaya must have carried on his shoulders, for over a decade, and I wonder how on earth he coped."

11. On playing in the IPL and money involved: "For a player to turn down a contract, he must have family money, a wealthy personal sponsor or a national board with enough cash to compensate him for not playing. Anyone who says they're not interested in earning a contract is either lying or not good enough."

12. On his solitary Test wicket: "I still believe I have the best bowling average in South African Test history. Somebody may pass my total dismissals one day, but I bet no-one ever has a lower bowling average than 6!"

13. On commentators mouthing off: "To listen to a number 11 batsman talking about technique against the short ball, with such authority, makes me shudder. He probably got hit with every second bouncer he faced, and was probably on his backside for the other ones."

14. On rhino conservation work: "Much as I love being in the bush and close to the animals, I understand my role. And I do it unpaid. I realise there may be skepticism about this, but absolutely no money from donors or sponsors comes to me. This is a passion for me."

15. Jacques Kallis on first meeting young, hard-partying Boucher: "I thought he was an idiot!"

16. Then, years later, on their friendship: "It's good to think you have a friend to turn to, for any reason or at any time, but I never really needed to turn to Mark – because he was already there."