Bouch: Through my eyes

Title: Bouch
Subtitle: Through my eyes
Author: Mark Boucher; Neil Manthor
Genre: Cricket memoirs
Publisher: Jonathan Ball Publishers SA
Cape Town; Johannesburg; South Africa, 2013
ISBN 9781868425907 / ISBN 978-1-86842-590-7
Softcover, 15 x 23 cm, 308 pages, several colour photos

Description:

Mark Boucher is a former South African cricketer, who holds the record for the most Test dismissals by a wicket-keeper. He was a regular feature of the South African side since the 1997/1998 tour to Australia, until his retirement from international cricket due to an accident in July 2012. In the foreword to his cricket memoirs, Bouch: Through my eyes, he writes: There are many historical and statistical accounts of my career, so I see no need to add to them here. It has been said of me that I tell a good story, and there is no doubt I have a few to tell from a 15-year career in international cricket. My sense of history and of the 'relevance' of the cricket that took place during my career is naturally subjective. I have welcomed the opportunity for all of those involved in my career, from a playing, administrative and personal capacity, to have their say in this book. But, for me, it is simply an opportunity to recount some of the stories and events that occurred. It feels peculiar to write a book about my life at the age of just 36.

I have lived a fabulous life, but in many ways I am aware that it is just beginning. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than having a braai with friends and chatting about the ways of the world and the direction our lives are taking. So pull up a chair, pour yourselves a drink and join me for a chat about who I am, where I came from, and what I have seen and learnt about cricket and life in the last 20 years. We start from my earliest days as a sports-mad youngster, so it's longer than 20 years! And we end, of course, with the injury that cost me most of the sight in my left eye and ended my career shortly before I had intended to retire anyway. Do I have a message? Is there something I would like you to take away from reading Content: Bouch. Through my eyes? No. But if there is some knowledge that we may share, or a lesson or two that may be of interest (usually learnt the hard way by me), then that would be a happy bonus. I hope you enjoy the read. I've certainly enjoyed the journey. But it is not the end. It is just the beginning.

Content: Bouch. Through my eyes

Foreword by Johann Rupert
Foreword by Jacques Kallis
Introduction
Prologue
Early years
Academy days
Dreaming of international cricket
First tours
The fall of Hansie Cronje
The King Commission and after
Dreadlock holiday
Transformation, selection and discipline
Dropped from the squad
The cricket bubble
Security issues
Facing Australia
England 2008
Tour of Australia 2008-2009
Ups and downs at the World Cup
Dropped - for the second time
Looking back
The IPL and the future of cricket
Heading for the exit
Aftermath
A new beginning
Beyond the bubble
Afterword by Graeme Smith
Appendix Vital statistics