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UNANIMOUS CHOICE: Thami Tsolekile's improved performance earned him a Proteas contract. Picture by Gallo Images

 The problem South African cricket faces is that Boucher is finishing off, and with Thami at the age of 31, they will sit with the same problem in three to four years when his career comes to an end 

That is the categorical assessment of one of South Africa's greatest ever wicketkeepers, Ray Jennings.

"If people don't understand the game of cricket, they will pin it down to race. It's not about colour, Thami deserves it," Jennings told Sunday World.

The diminutive Lions wicketkeeper, who last featured in the South African cricket team eight years ago, was this week named among the list of 22 players given full contracts by Cricket South Africa for the 2012-13 season.

Tsolekile, Faf du Plessis and Jacques Rudolph were the three new players to be added to the list while Lungile "Loots" Bosman and Ryan McLaren were dropped from it.

The keeper's inclusion on the list indicates that he has been earmarked as the next in line to succeed incumbent Boucher, 35, who is reaching the end of his international career.

Some critics have claimed that Tsolekile's inclusion was one based on colour while others believed that at age 31 he was too old to take over the reins.

But Jennings came out to bat for Tsolekile: "Cricket SA is looking for a keeper who can bat and he has done well in that sense. He deserves the contract."

Jennings, a former Proteas coach, added that the national team was faced with a long-term problem that Tsolekile can only solve in the short term.

"The problem South African cricket faces is that Boucher is finishing off, and with Thami at the age of 31, they will sit with the same problem in three to four years when his career comes to an end. This is a problem that should have been looked into long ago, so it is best Cricket SA begin their search for someone else soon," Jennings said.

Jennings said that perhaps Tsolekile's selection for the Proteas eight years ago had been premature, but acknowledges that he has made big strides since.

"I think it was too early to bring him into the national team in 2004. He has learnt a lot since then," Jennings said.

"He can actually add something to South African cricket and prove all his critics wrong," he added.

Convener of selectors Andrew Hudson says the timing was right to give Tsolekile a chance.

"He's a far better player today than he was two or three years ago. He's much more mature as a cricketer and he was a unanimous choice among us as selectors," says Hudson.