South African Wicket Keeper Mark Boucher Retirement

Retirement of South African Wicket Keeper Mark Boucher

South African Wicket Keeper Mark Boucher Retirement 

Mark Boucher, South African Wicket Keeper Retire 

Mark Baucher 

Mark Verdon Boucher (born 3 December 1976, East London, South Africa) , who holds the record for the most Test dismissals by a wicket keeper. He was educated at Selborne College and has represented Border, Africa XI, ICC World XI, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders of the Indian Premier League, and South Africa. He had been a regular feature of the South African side since the 1997/1998 tour to Australia, until his retirement in July 2012 after a serious eye injury against Somerset.

From the time he replaced South African wicket keeper Dave Richardson until his retirement, Boucher was South Africa's first-choice wicket keeper, and is widely regarded as one of, if not the, greatest wicket keepers South Africa has ever had.He holds the record for the most dismissals in Test cricket. He got the record originally when he overtook the former Australian wicket keeper Ian Healy in the first test of the Bank Alfalah Test Series versus Pakistan in Karachi on 3 October 2007 when he stumped Umar Gul off the bowling of Paul Harris. He then lost the record to Adam Gilchrist before regaining it when he caught Mushfiqur Rahim of Bangladesh in February 2008. Boucher is also second on the all-time list in One Day Internationals, also behind Adam Gilchrist. He once held the record for the highest score by a nightwatchman in Test cricket with 125 for South Africa v Zimbabwe at Harare in 1999-00. On 12 March 2006 he hit the winning runs for South Africa against Australia in what had been the Greatest One Day International ever played.
Boucher has been a mainstay of the South Africa side for 15 years, appearing in 147 Tests and becoming the first wicket keeper to take 500 catches in Test cricket, where he has also scored five hundreds.
He had intended for this tour to England to be his final in international cricket, with his 150th Test scheduled for the third of the series at Lord’s.
Smith paid tribute to Boucher’s contribution to South Africa cricket and hailed his fierce competitive instincts, as well as his high-class displays behind the stumps and as a powerful batsman.
‘‘For the 14 years of your international year you have been a Proteas warrior. You have given 100 percent for this team,’’ Smith said.
‘‘You are a very good friend to many of us. You leave us today with sad hearts but also with our deepest gratitude.’’

South Africa wicket keeper Mark Boucher has retired from international cricket after suffering a severe eye injury during South Africa’s tour match against Somerset, team captain Graeme Smith revealed on Tuesday. Boucher had to undergo three hours of surgery on a ‘‘laceration’’ to the white of the left eyeball on Monday night after being struck by a bail on day one of the Proteas’ tour match at Taunton. The incident occurred when a ball from spinner Imran Tahir clean bowled Gemaal Hussain, with Boucher stood up to the stumps and wearing a cap instead of a helmet. He immediately hit the ground and was helped from the pitch with blood apparently coming from his eye. The 35-year-old was due to return home after being released from hospital on Tuesday morning and Smith, speaking at Taunton, read out a statement on Boucher’s behalf that confirmed his retirement from South Africa duty.


The Castle Lager Proteas stood together in unity to announce the retirement of veteran wicket keeper, Mark Boucher from International cricket. Graeme Smith read out the statement on behalf of Boucher, who is recovering from eye surgery, which was performed last night.

The statement is as follows:

It is with sadness, and in some pain, that I make this announcement. Due to the severity of my eye injury, I will not be able to play International cricket again. I had prepared for this UK tour as well, if not better than I have prepared for any tour in my career. I had never anticipated announcing my retirement now, but circumstances have dictated differently. I have a number of thank you’s to make to people who have made significant contributions during my International career, which I will do in due course. For now I would like to thank the huge number of people, many of whom are strangers, for their heartfelt support during the past 24 hours. I am deeply touched by all the well wishes. I wish the team well in the UK, as I head home and onto a road of uncertain recovery.

Smith also gave a personal message to his team mate and friend he has been playing with for the past 14 years:

Bouch, we have walked a long road together, and we are saddened to part under these circumstances. For the 14years of your International career, you have been a true Proteas warrior, a patriotic South African, a fighter who asks nothing and gives everything. You have been a 100 percenter for this team. You have been more than a performer, you have been a motivator, an inspirer, an energizer… and a good friend to many. You leave us today with sad hearts, but also with a deep gratitude for your contributions to our team, and to us as people. The fighting spirit you brought to team remains with us. We wish you a good as possible recovery from your injury. As we bid you a farewell as an International cricketer and wish you well for your future, we keep you as a friend and respected Proteas warrior.


Personal information

Full name Mark Verdon Boucher
Born 3 December 1976 (age 35)
East London, Cape Province, South Africa

Batting style Right-handed
Bowling style Right arm medium

Role Wicket-keeper

International information

National side South Africa

Test debut(cap 267)
17 October 1997 v Pakistan

Last Test 3 January 2012 v Sri Lanka

ODI debut (cap 46)
16 January 1998 v New Zealand

Last ODI 28 October 2011 v Australia

ODI shirt no. 9
Domestic team information
Years Team
1995/96–2002/03 Border

2004/05- Warriors

2009–2010 Royal Challengers Bangalore

2011 Kolkata Knight Riders

Career statistics






Competition                   Test        ODI            FC            LA

Matches                          147          295            212           365
Runs scored                 5,515       4,686         8,803        6,218
Batting average            30.30       28.57         33.34        28.19
100s/50s                        5/35         1/26         10/53         2/35
Top score                        125          147*          134          147*
Balls bowled                      8             –               32              –
Wickets                               1             –                 1              –
Bowling average            6.00             –           26.00             –
5 wickets in innings             0             –                 0              –
10 wickets in match             0             –                 0              –
Best bowling                    1/6             –              1/6              –
Catches/stumpings       532/23     403/22      712/37      484/31




Tag: mark boucher, australia, south Africa, wicket keeper, adam gilchrist, proteas, retirement