Boucher needs to improve in limited-overs - van Zyl

Corrie van Zyl, the South Africa coach, has said that Mark Boucher needs to do more in order to reclaim his place in South Africa's limited-overs squads. Boucher, who continues to keep wicket in Tests, was omitted from the ODI and Twenty20 squads for the home series against Zimbabwe and the tour of the UAE.

"I spoke to him [Boucher] about certain aspects of his game that need to improve," van Zyl told Supersport. "He is thoroughly aware of the reasons [for the omission]." Boucher will be playing for the Warriors in the domestic MTN40 series and van Zyl said it was an opportunity for Boucher to prove himself. In his last 10 ODI innings Boucher, 33, averaged 21.87 with a high score of 31 not out.

South Africa had used AB de Villiers as wicketkeeper during the limited-overs leg of their tour of the West Indies in May as they sought to fine tune their team combination ahead of the 2011 World cup. He will keep wicket once again during the ODIs against Zimbabwe and Pakistan, while Heino Kuhn, the Titans wicketkeeper, will be used for the Twenty20s against Zimbabwe.

van Zyl also said that Herschelle Gibbs, 36, who last played for South Africa during the ODI series against India in February, could still make his way back into the ODI squad. Gibbs is scheduled to play Twenty20 cricket in Australia and New Zealand and van Zyl said his recall would depend on his form and whether South Africa needed a batsman like him in their ODI squad.

The first ODI between South Africa and Zimbabwe is on October 15 in Bloemfontein. The ODI series between South Africa and Pakistan begins on October 29 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.