Mickey Arthur relishing battle with Boucher
Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur is looking forward to slugging it out with his South African counterpart Mark Boucher when the teams start a two-Test series in Pretoria on Boxing Day, hailing the former wicketkeeper for his aggressive style on the pitch.
Boucher was one of Arthur's most trusted senior players when the latter coached the Proteas between 2005 and 2010 with excellent success in the test arena.
"Mark Boucher and I go back a helluva long way and I am really looking forward to locking horns with him," Arthur told reporters on Monday.
"He was an aggressive player and I'm sure he will be an aggressive coach too. It will be up to us to match that intensity.
"There is a wonderful familiarity for me now walking into the grounds. Africa never leaves you. That knowledge of the conditions will hopefully be of great benefit to us."
Arthur was in charge of Pakistan when they lost a Test series 3-0 in South Africa last year.
Boucher was one of Arthur's most trusted senior players when the latter coached the Proteas between 2005 and 2010 with excellent success in the test arena.
"Mark Boucher and I go back a helluva long way and I am really looking forward to locking horns with him," Arthur told reporters on Monday.
"He was an aggressive player and I'm sure he will be an aggressive coach too. It will be up to us to match that intensity.
"There is a wonderful familiarity for me now walking into the grounds. Africa never leaves you. That knowledge of the conditions will hopefully be of great benefit to us."
Arthur was in charge of Pakistan when they lost a Test series 3-0 in South Africa last year.