Kallis, Boucher leave Warriors to re-join Cobras

South Africa stalwarts Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher have both left the Warriors franchise and will re-join Cobras. The pair, who live in Cape Town, both want to spend more time at home and cite that as the main reason for the move.

Kallis played most of his cricket in Cape Town and moved to Warriors in 2008-09 after a dispute with the Cobras management. Boucher, who grew up in East London and played for Warriors throughout his career, had a stint with Cobras in the 2007-08 season and then went back to the province of his birth, following the same dispute. Boucher will now return to Cape Town, where he has lived for the past few years.

"For me Warriors is one of the best-run franchises in the country. It was a huge and difficult decision for me to leave," Boucher said. "Cape Town is my home and I do need to be based there, to explore business opportunities for my future."

Boucher's departure means that Warriors captain Davy Jacobs will have to take on the responsibility of keeping all the time. Jacobs, who played for Mumbai Indians in the recently concluded IPL, did not keep for Warriors during their Pro20 campaign last season because Boucher was available for the full tournament.

The Warriors squad includes six nationally contracted players: Johan Botha, Colin Ingram, Wayne Parnell, Ashwell Prince, Rusty Theron and Lonwabo Tsotsobe. They have awarded 14 franchise contracts, two of which have gone to former internationals Makhaya Ntini and Nicky Boje. Warriors regulars Andrew Birch, Bevan Bennett, Garnett Kruger, Lyall Meyer, Jon-Jon and Kelly Smuts, and Craig Thyssen all received contracts.

Two semi-professional contracts were given to up-and coming-players, right-arm medium-fast bowler Aya Gqamame and Eastern Province Player of the Year Athi Dyili. "It is a very good sign that the newly-contracted players are youngsters that are truly homegrown," Chris Nenzani, the Eastern Cape Cricket chairman, said.

Warriors won their first two trophies since the franchise system was implemented in the 2009-10 season, when they claimed the MTN40 and Standard Bank Pro20 crowns, but failed to defend their titles last season. Their head coach, Russell Domingo, has been appointed assistant coach of the national team and Warriors have not yet announced his replacement.