A new war of words
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Getty Images
Daryll Cullinan's comments in the media over South Africa's 4-0 loss in the ODI series to England haven't gone down too well with Mark Boucher. In his column in the Weekender on September 6, Cullinan had suggested phasing out a few of the seniors from the ODI squad, and a certain Boucher was the first to be mentioned.
I have said for some time now that it is a luxury to carry two wicket keepers in the side. Mark Boucher may have to go. AB de Villiers is just as capable with the gloves, and can do the Adam Gilchrist thing of keeping and opening the batting.
Boucher hit back at the criticism, telling Business Day: "Isn’t it strange how everyone gets so judgmental and calls for heads when we lose, without looking at the facts."
“I respected Darryl as a cricketer, but since he has become a commentator we have had words — and I will prove him wrong again, as I have done in the past."
...
“How young does he want the team to be when they play the world champions? Does he want us to play Australia without any senior players in the team at all?"
He also came out in defence of his team-mate Jacques Kallis.
“If Jacques (Kallis) was scoring 100 after 100 no one would be saying he’s fat. But now he has been struggling, people are saying he is fat."
Cullinan responds in his latest column in the Weekender.
True, you don’t become a bad player or team overnight; but to give two such contrasting performances in such a short time has left everyone asking questions.
Mathew Varghese is sub-editor (stats) at Cricinfo