Mark Boucher named as new head coach of Titans

Former South African wicketkeeper-batsman Mark Boucher was on Monday announced as the new head coach of the Titans franchise replacing the highly successful Rob Walter who recently left the post to take over as head coach of New Zealand side Otago Volts.

Boucher, one of the most prolific glovesmen during his playing days which was unfortunately cut short due to an eye injury sustained on the playing field, is currently helping out the South African national team as a lower-order batting consultant and also working with Quinton de Kock to improve his glovework. He feels the time is right now to try his hand at an independent role. The 39-year-old is equipped for the job having a level 2 coaching qualification in hand.

“I am stoked by the opportunity to get back into domestic cricket. Upon my retirement, I realised I would not be able to play the game any longer, but to be involved in the capacity as coach of a domestic powerhouse like the Titans is thrilling,” Boucher said via a press statement.

With the Titans having won domestic titles in all three formats over the previous two seasons, Boucher is aware that a tough task awaits him but he is confident that he can continue the success story at the Titans while leaving a lasting impression on the side’s development over the next few years.

“I would like to fully utilise the opportunity to develop the skills of the Titans squad even more. Rob has left behind an enormous legacy, and it will be big boots to fill,” Boucher said. “But my challenge is to leave my own footprint and to make a seamless transition in association with a mature and enormously determined group of stars.”

Welcoming Boucher to the franchise, Jacques Faul, chief executive of the Titans, expressed hope that Boucher would make the best use of his vast experience to help continue the recent success at the Titans.

“We are privileged to gain the experience and the astute leadership and knowledge of one of the legends of South Africa as our senior coach,” he said. “We believe it is the perfect fit. We naturally play an explosive brand of cricket. Boucher never shirked his responsibilities in the eye of the storm. He believed that the best form of defence was to attack. And he did so on countless occasions when the circumstances demanded defiance,”

“He will be an asset to the Titans and we are looking at Boucher to entrench our position as a domestic cricketing leader on and off the field,” he added.