Former Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Mark Boucher is to help coach the Test team ahead of their clash with New Zealand.

The Proteas meet the Kiwis in the first of a two-Test series, starting in Durban from 19 August; their first five-day game since beating England in the fifth and final Test eight months ago.

While Boucher will undoubtedly have advice for ‘keeper Quinton de Kock, he also has extensive knowledge and experience as a marshal of the lower-order. In 147 Tests he scored 5515 runs, including five centuries and 35 fifties, usually at No 7 or 8.

It is an area in which the Proteas need bolstering.

‘Mark is a guy that is highly respected,’ coach Russell Domingo said. ‘It will be good, particularly for a young Quinton de Kock, to spend some time with him working on his wicket-keeping, give a few fielding drills for us and to be around the team for a few days. It will also be good for him to work with some of our lower-order batsmen. He has the reputation of having that fighting spirit and epitomising what the Proteas stand for in terms of being tough and never giving up.’

Domingo has often called in consultants to aid his coaching team: Graeme Smith was enlisted to help ahead of the second Test against England at Newlands in January; a Test the Proteas went on to draw after losing the first by some margin.

Boucher’s career came to a premature end when he received a severe eye injury in the first warm-up game of the 2012 tour of England. His last Test was against New Zealand in Wellington in March 2012.

Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Backpagepix