Boje eases into captaincy role

Nicky Boje's all-round abilities will be crucial for Northants

Nicky Boje insists he does not feel the pressure of captaincy as he prepares to launch Northamptonshire's double promotion challenge.

The former South Africa all-rounder takes over the reins from county stalwart David Sales, who announced his resignation in January after four seasons in the job.

Boje, who was vice-captain to Graeme Smith and skippered South Africa in an ODI against Zimbabwe in 2005, is at ease with his new responsibility, even after compatriots and key Kolpak players Johan van der Wath and Andrew Hall were not registered.

“It is an extra responsibility, but I’ve done it for a lot of years back home,” Boje told ecb.co.uk.

“I’ve signed two years for Northants, and hopefully we can produce some winning cricket under my captaincy.

“Our priority is to move up and gain promotion in both of the main competitions.”

Northants begin their LV County Championship Division Two campaign against Essex at Chelmsford, and Wednesday’s opponents look like being rivals for promotion.

Northants have not won a one-day competition for 12 years, when a team including Rob Bailey, Kevin Curran, Curtly Ambrose and current head coach David Capel beat Lancashire in the Benson & Hedges Cup final at Lord’s.

Boje scored 74 not out against Warwickshire in last season's NatWest Pro40 competition

But Boje, who retired from international cricket in 2006, believes the Steelbacks have the ingredients to once again mount a challenge in the shorter forms of the game.

“We’ve got quality one-day players like Lance Klusener and David Sales, who have performed well for a long time.

“Any side can win the Twenty20 competition, because it’s such a short game and a lottery.

“It’s exciting, enjoyable to play, and I maybe have a small advantage as a slow bowler. But I’m not thinking about Twenty20 right now.

“Johann Louw is joining us and he’s going to be key. He’s right-arm, in the same mould as van der Wath. He can bowl long spells, and bat at seven or eight as well.

“He hits the wicket quite hard. He’s probably not a 140kph bowler but he’s a brisk 130kph and is fresh from a good domestic season back home.”

Boje, who has batted at number three for South Africa in Tests and ODIs, pointed out that as leader he would continue to bat high in the order and bowl long spells.

Batting at number five, Boje scored 125 against Leicestershire in his second Championship game for Northants, and took 16 wickets in first-class cricket to go with a haul of 11 in limited overs matches.

“The gameplans will stay the same regardless of whether I am captain,” he said. “I’m looking to bat at five, like I did last year.”

Predecessor Sales scored 1,384 runs at 55.36 in the championship and 755 runs at 68.63 in the Friends Provident Trophy and NatWest Pro40, and it is no secret that his elusive search for an England call-up was part of the 30-year-old’s decision.

“It’s quite a nice feeling not being captain,” he told ecb.co.uk. “I haven't got the responsibility of worrying about everyone else and I can focus on being the best batsman for the team and scoring as many runs as I can.

Prolific batsman David Sales is still dreaming of an elusive England call-up © Getty Images

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“I gave the captaincy everything, but four years is enough. I didn’t feel I could give it what it required this year.

“Nicky’s put his stamp on the team in his short time here and other senior men - Lance Klusener, Stephen Peters and myself all have opinions on certain situations.

“All I can worry about is scoring runs, and you never know, I might get the phone call one day.”

Capel revealed that Sales’ resignation had come as a shock, as the club had expected the amiable batsman to continue at the helm.

“It was a surprise,” said Capel. “It came a little bit out of the blue just after Christmas.

“I sat down and tried to talk him out of it, but it was futile because he had already made his mind up and told the chairman and the chief executive.

“I gave him a few days to make sure he was making the right decision, but I now understand and support his decision.

“With the young family he has got, and the burning ambition he has to play for England, he wants to give it every chance as a batsman and not have to think about everybody else.”

Sales said the decision to appoint Boje was not a given, but that the South African had emerged as the outstanding candidate when the matter was discussed.

“We considered Stephen Peters, but it became a unanimous decision to choose Nicky.

“He is an outstanding candidate to take over and has the ability to captain on the field well and deal with people on a one-to-one basis.”