Exclusive: Corbin Bosch Following in His Father’s Footsteps in Emotional Debut

It was an emotional four days at SuperSport Park in Centurion for former Proteas fast bowler Fanie de Villiers as he watched the son of his late former new-ball partner at the same ground make his Test debut for South Africa against Pakistan, but it also got him thinking about Corbin Bosch’s surprisingly mediocre first-class record.

Fanie de Villiers Reflects on the Emotional Debut of His Late Teammate’s Son

Bosch made a sensational Test debut in the first Test against Pakistan with a great all-round showing. He took a wicket with his first ball, on his way to fine figures of four for 63. He then counter-attacked smartly with the bat, coming in at 191 for seven and refusing to be pinned down despite being under massive pressure in difficult conditions for batting. His 81 not out at number nine was a terrific innings and hugely significant in the thrilling outcome of the match as it made up the bulk of the Proteas’ 90-run first-innings lead.

But while the 30-year-old was continuing his outstanding recent form with the bat, taking his first-class average this season to 96, he was primarily chosen for his fast bowling. And Bosch came into the game with a first-class record of 72 wickets in 34 matches at a humdrum average of 36.75. He had only taken one five-wicket haul in his career.

Father Tertius, who passed away in perplexing circumstances at the age of just 33 in 2000, shared the new ball between 1987/88 and 1993/94 with De Villiers for the Northerns cricket team that was based at SuperSport Park. Bosch senior claimed 210 wickets in 68 first-class matches at an average of 27.56. His pace and aggression was enough to earn him a place in South Africa’s 1992 World Cup squad and their first Test since isolation, in the West Indies that April.

While De Villiers was two years older than Bosch, he only made his Test debut in December 1993, on the tour to Australia in which he famously bowled them to victory by five runs, defending just 116, with six for 43 in the second innings and 10 wickets in the match.

“It was absolutely emotional to watch Tertius’ son make his Test debut, and it was a privilege to be able to commentate on the same day,” De Villiers told SportsBoom.com. 

“Most people thought the younger brother Eathan had surpassed Corbin and was more likely to be selected for the national team, but Corbin really used his opportunity."

“I was surprised that every ball he bowled was over 140km/h. He must have developed a lot over the last couple of years, judging by his first-class average. It suggests he did not have the best help in his early career. And it also shows that he has not played a lot of first-class cricket."

“That’s the biggest problem with our young bowlers, because then it is difficult for them to develop properly. In most white-ball cricket, bowlers are looking to slant the ball into the batsman so you don’t give away too many runs, while you want to take it away from the bat in Test cricket. So it’s like having to detox when you play with the red ball, you have to change those muscle memories,” De Villiers said.

A Tale of Two Brothers

Before December 2024, Bosch must have looked at international cricket from afar, perhaps wondering if his chance to emulate his father had gone. But a host of injuries to South Africa’s fast bowlers, his all-round ability, improved first-class performances and Proteas coach Shukri Conrad’s desire for real pace on the Highveld, combined to make his dreams come true.

Bosch is averaging 22.60 with the ball this season, but in the three seasons before that, he only played 11 first-class matches.

The 26-year-old Eathan Bosch has already taken 100 first-class wickets in 40 matches at an average of 26.94.

The death of Tertius Bosch when Corbin was just five and Eathan was not yet two-years-old would obviously have had a massive impact on his sons, made worse by the fact there were clouds of suspicion that the wife may have poisoned the husband.

“When I think of what I put into my boys in anticipation of them being cricketers, it’s amazing what Corbin and Eathan have achieved,” De Villiers said. 

“They never had a father, so to make it is incredible and they are both such good cricketers."

“I feel it is so important for someone to create that dream world for children, which Tertius would have created for his sons. You look at Ray Jennings [Keaton], Kepler Wessels [Riki] and Jimmy Cook [Stephen], their sons have all succeeded in cricket with long careers. People like Hylton and H.D. Ackerman and Trevor and Mike Madsen for Wayne too."

“It’s wonderful to be able to phone and congratulate them. It’s just such a pity that I couldn’t phone Tertius. But when there is no dad around, then you need a special teacher or coach to give the kid a chance. And because they lost their dad, Eathan and Corbin are big supporters of each other, and you could tell the pride of Eathan was massive on the side of the field.”

The Legacy of Tertius Bosch

Interestingly, De Villiers said the styles of fast bowling employed by the two sons are very different to how Tertius Bosch used to bowl.

“Corbin has broad shoulders and a completely different action to Tertius, who had a massive whiplash effect. From a three metre run-up, he was still special, like Sylvester Clarke, Jofra Archer or Marchant de Lange, Tertius could still bowl at the speed of light."

“Guys like myself and the Bosch sons, we need a full run-up because we rely on momentum. Tertius played action [indoor] cricket and was the fastest in the country in that sport, he could break your ribs. He was the same sort of bowler as Sylvester Clarke, but quicker than him when they were both at Northerns,” De Villiers said.