MONDAY, 1.30PM:
FORMER South African wicketkeeper Ray Jennings has launched a scathing attack on current SA keeper Mark Boucher for not calling English batsman Alec Stewart back after he fluffed a run-out in the second one-day international at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Boucher couldn’t pouch the ball after a return, and the ball lodged in his midriff. Stewart saw that he was a long way out, and ran straight on without waiting for a decision from the umpire.
Jennings said: “I think Boucher baled out. I think he knew he had made a mess of the catch by letting it through his gloves and then, to avoid drawing any more attention to it, he curled over and made more of the pain caused by the ball hitting his ribs.”
There is no doubt in my mind that he should have called Stewart back. The match was at a critical stage, Stewart was the key man for England at that point, and losing him was a big blow.”
Boucher said that the return from Jonty Rhodes had nicked the stumps, causing the bail to drop. “I won’t try to rob a player of his wicket,” he added.
SPORT BRIEFS
BACK NOT IN THE PACK
LEICESTER and British Lions flanker Neil Back has withdrawn from England’s southern hemisphere tour on Sunday after failing a fitness test. The English Rugby Union said Back has a groin strain and needs rest and treatment. “I’m very disappointed as I had structured my whole summer around the tour,” Back said.
COETZER STRUGGLING WITH FLU
WORLD number five women’s tennis player South African Amanda Coetzer will face Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder in her opening match of the French Open at Roland Garros on Monday, but she will be battling flu as well. Coetzer has been struggling with the virus for five weeks.
THLOBO THIRD IN FRANCE
KENYAN Elijah Lagat set a new course record by 15 seconds in the Prague marathon on Sunday, clocking 2:08:52. Compariot Samson Kandie came in 18 seconds after Lagat, with South African Ezael Tlhobo 44 seconds back in third place.
AUSSIE TO COACH SA SPINNERS
FORMER Australian Test spinner Terry Jenner has been asked to join the United Cricket Board’s panel of specialist coaches. Jenner, who is a leading teacher of spin bowling in Australia, will help to develop spin bowling in South Africa.
BAZOOKA OUTGUNS ARGENTINIAN
SOUTH African super-middleweight champion Soon “Bazooka” Botes unanimously outpointed Argentinian Ramon Britez at Nasrec on Sunday.