Tsolekile relishes a new beginning

Thami Tsolekile, South Africa's replacement wicket-keeper, has accepted that he may not play a major part in the upcoming series against England, despite receiving an SOS to join the squad after Mark Boucher's enforced retirement.

South Africa's coach Gary Kirsten and bowling coach Allan Donald have indicated that AB de Villiers, and not Tsolekile, will take the gloves for the first Test at The Oval next week. Neither made mention of Tsolekile's role in the side.

"I don't know if I will be keeping, I know I will be with the squad," Tsolekile said before leaving Johannesburg. "If I do get the opportunity, I will take it with both hands. I am just happy to be back in the squad."

Tsolekile's call up to the squad is a clear sign that he will succeed Mark Boucher eventually. But the abrupt nature of Boucher's withdrawal has left uncertainty over Tsolekile's place in the immediate term.

"It's very unfortunate for Bouch and I really feel for him. It may be an opportunity for me but I didn't really expect it this way," Tsolekile said. "Boucher's record speaks for itself. He has broken so many records. I don't want people to start comparing me and Bouch. He has been a true legend of the country."

Although taken by surprise by recent events, Tsolekile is not a complete stranger to international cricket. He played three Tests for South Africa in 2004 but the eight years he spent out of national plans, which included a stint away from the game completely, means that Tsolekile does not see his recall as a second coming. Instead, he regards it as a first shot.

"If I do get a chance to play, it will feel like I am making my debut because it has been so long since I played Test cricket," he said. "When I first played, I was only 23 years old but now I have lot of first-class games under my belt. I've been to England twice before, with the national side in 2004 and I've been there to play club cricket. It is a very tough place to tour but I've got some experience there. I've also done well for the Lions in the past three seasons."

While he is unmatched as a wicket-keeper in the current South African franchise system, his batting has been a cause for concern in some quarters. Tsolekile averaged 58.10 in his comeback season at the Lions but could not maintain that and has acknowledged that he has work to do in that department. He had lengthy sessions and discussions with South Africa A coach Vincent Barnes during the recent series against Sri Lanka A, during which his batting was once again a talking point.

"In any sport, preparation is important and I was fortunate that the SA A games gave me some preparation but I would have loved to spend more time at the crease," Tsolekile said. "Ten years ago, you may have got away with playing international cricket as a keeper alone but now it's very important that you score some runs as well. You have almost to become an all-rounder."

With the strength of the bowling on both sides the major talking point of the series, South Africa may opt to go without Tsolekile initially and play an extra batsmen in JP Duminy. Even Tsolekile admitted that the "battle is probably going to be in the batting," but he stopped short of saying he will need time to prove himself in that department.

One person who believes Tsolekile does not need to a waiting period is his captain at the Lions, Alviro Petersen. "I think he is ready," he said. "He is certainly one of the best wicket-keepers in South Africa. The circumstances that he was brought in under were not ideal but I think Thami will fit in perfectly."

Petersen also had praise for Tsolekile's ability as a batsman, something he has seen first-hand in a variety of circumstances. "There were not a lot of times that he came in under pressure at the Lions but then he would really put the nail in the coffin for us," Petersen said. "And when he did come in under pressure he always came through so he has shown that he can do it in both situations. In the last couple of years, he has really matured well. I'm delighted for him, despite the circumstances."