Corbin Bosch makes dream Test debut in front of home Centurion crowd

There is a legitimate argument about whose first Test wicket is more special. On Thursday, Corbin Bosch claimed his first wicket with his first delivery in Test cricket in front of a packed SuperSport Park — his home ground.

Tertius Bosch, Corbin’s father, meanwhile, has the honour of his first Test scalp being that of legendary West Indies batter Brian Lara back in 1992 in South Africa’s first Test match since its readmission into international cricket.

Corbin and Tertius Bosch are the third father-son pair to represent South Africa in Test cricket after Shaun and Peter Pollock and more recently, Jimmy and Stephen Cook.

“It couldn’t be more fitting that the place where he [Tertius Bosch] played most of his cricket is the place where I make my Test debut,” Corbin Bosch said to journalists before the start of day one.

“I love this place. The atmosphere at SuperSport Park is always fantastic.

“It’s a ground I’m well accustomed to so I couldn’t be more happy that it’s my home and it’s where he played most of his cricket before going down to Durban.

“I cannot be more grateful and thankful to spend such a momentous occasion here.”

That Test match against West Indies was the only international red-ball match the senior Bosch played for South Africa.

He spent most of his domestic career at Northern Transvaal, now known as the Titans, before moving to the Dolphins in KwaZulu-Natal, where his other son, Eathan, currently plays. Tertius Bosch died in 2000 at the age of 33.

Wickets aplenty

The Bosch brothers are known for their raw pace. The conditions at SuperSport Park have assisted Corbin Bosch, with his speeds consistently hovering above 140km/h.

He used all of his extra pace and height to produce fantastic figures of four wickets for 63 runs in 15 overs in his first bowling innings in Test cricket.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood was Bosch’s first victim. A fuller, wider delivery — after a sustained period of pressure by opening bowlers Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada — saw Masood throw his hands at it but the thick outside edge was caught by Jansen at gully.

Another left-hander was Bosch’s second victim. Saud Shakeel experienced just how quick Bosch is after a shorter delivery going over leg stump raised and rushed him attempting to pull the ball. It caught his glove and was easily pouched by Kyle Verreynne.

Bosch was also too quick for lower-order batters Aamer Jamal and Naseem Shah, with the former chopping on and the latter top-edging a short delivery.

Motivation

Bosch was originally called up as a replacement for Gerald Coetzee in the Test series against Sri Lanka after Coetzee suffered a groin strain in the first Test.

It was the first time that the 30-year-old had been selected for the national team, which has suffered a slew of injuries to fast bowlers.

Bosch has, however, tasted World Cup glory in national colours. He was part of the SA under-19 team that clinched the country’s only World Cup triumph.

Test teammates Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada were also part of that team. Bosch was player of the match in the final after picking up four wickets for 15 runs during the team’s victory by six wickets.

“It’s been motivation,” Bosch said about his under-19 teammates reaching the mark he had dreamed about much sooner than he did. “International cricket is not something that’s guaranteed to anybody. I always knew that I’m going to have to put in the hard work.

“It’s always been motivating me. I always wanted to play with these guys as I’ve moved up. It’s been fantastic to watch them grow and excel in their various careers.

“It’s always something that I’ve wanted to be a part of and create my own legacy along with them.”

Bosch made his international debut four days before the Boxing Day Test match in South Africa’s 36-run One Day International loss to Pakistan at the Wanderers. But a Test cap is the one he really wanted.

“It’s taken a long time,” said Bosch, who made his first-class debut in 2017. “There were doubts beginning to creep in, especially the longer you go without having a taste and thinking I was playing some really good cricket in patches.

“And thinking, ‘If it’s not now then when is it ever going to happen?’ I had a real determination that this is something that I really, really wanted and I really strived for.

“I’ve made plenty of sacrifices. This moment just means that all my hard work, all the blood, sweat and tears have culminated in me finally making my international Test debut.

“This is the cap I wanted most out of all the international caps. Test cricket is something that means the most to me.” DM