Corbin Bosch says he’s still coming to terms with his meteoric rise – and the comparisons to Proteas legend Jacques Kallis – after a standout season across all formats.
The 30-year-old all-rounder was thrust into the Test spotlight when injuries ruled out several frontline fast bowlers last summer, and he hasn’t looked back.
Since then, Bosch has won the World Test Championship with the Proteas, lifted the SA20 trophy with MI Cape Town, and become a regular in the IPL.
Most recently, he scored his maiden Test century and took a five-wicket haul in the same match to lead the Proteas to a 329-run victory over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo – a feat last achieved by a South African in 2002, when Kallis did it against Bangladesh.
“It’s just an honour to be mentioned in the same sentence as Jacques,” Bosch told SportsBoom.co.za. “He was the GOAT of cricket in South Africa. I haven’t really come to grips with it quite yet, but it’s incredibly special.”
Bosch said he only realised the statistical milestone after seeing his name all over his Instagram feed following the win in Bulawayo.
Bosch’s path to the Proteas was anything but smooth. A standout in the 2014 U19 World Cup – where he opened the bowling alongside Kagiso Rabada – his progress stalled while teammates like Rabada and Aiden Markram broke into the senior side.
He spent years fighting for consistency in domestic cricket and even moved to Australia at one point, unable to find regular success back home with the Titans.
“I’ve had to be patient,” said Bosch. “Even when times were tough, I knew that eventually, when I got the opportunity, I was going to try and grab it with both hands.”
His opportunity finally came when Gerald Coetzee, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje were all ruled out of the Test series against Pakistan. Coach Shukri Conrad needed pace, and Bosch – capable of bowling at 145km/h – was called up.
On debut, he took a four-for and scored 81 in the first innings in Centurion, helping South Africa book their spot in the WTC final at Lord’s.
Bosch has since gone from domestic hopeful to Proteas match-winner.
“I still need to pinch myself,” he said. “It’s been a magical seven to 12 months. I’ve played some really good cricket, but I’ve also been surrounded by some fantastic people who’ve guided me and pushed me. Fortunately, the rub of the green has gone my way so far, and hopefully it continues.”
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Now with a century and a five-for on his Test CV, Bosch isn’t getting carried away – even if others are calling him the next great South African all-rounder.
“No one will ever replace Jacques,” he said. “But if I can contribute consistently to the Proteas the way he did, I’ll be more than happy.”
Photo: CSA/Facebook
