By CricketCountry Staff
South Africa veteran cricketer Mark Boucher on Tuesday announced retirement from all forms of international cricket with immediate effect.
Published: Jul 10, 2012, 05:52 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 10, 2012, 05:52 PM (IST)
Mark Boucher was stranded on 999 dismissals as a wicketkeeper across all formats © Getty Images
By CricketCountry Staff
London: Jul 10, 2012
South Africa veteran cricketer Mark Boucher on Tuesday announced retirement from all forms of international cricket with immediate effect. The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman had suffered a career-threatening injury on his left eye, which had ruled him out of the England tour.
The International Cricket Counil (ICC) announced on Twitter, “Mark Boucher has retired from international cricket with immediate effect due to eye injury.”
“Due to the severity of my eye injury, I will not be able to play International cricket again,” Boucher was quoted as saying by Cricket South Africa’s Twitter page.
CSA CEO Jacqes Faul said, “Boucher has been a great servant of the game,unique talents like his come 1ce a generation.He will never be forgotten.”
“Mark Boucher will be returning home from the tour. Selectors will name a replacement in due course,” Cricket South Africa had earlier announced.
The 35-year-old, who had hinted this could be his final campaign before retirement, was hit in the face when a bail ricocheted off the stumps after Gemaal Hussain was bowled by Imran Tahir during the first day of the Proteas’ tour opener against English county Somerset at Taunton.
Boucher, as would be expected for leg-spinner Tahir, was standing up to the stumps, but he was wearing a cap rather than a helmet.
After treatment on the field, Boucher was helped off with blood coming from his left eye and taken to hospital.
His place behind the stumps was filled by AB de Villiers, who has kept wicket in international matches for South Africa.
