Who had anticipated that the two day game at Taunton will be remembered for Boucher’s injury?
Mark Verdon Boucher, a South African cricketer, announced his instant retirement from international cricket and admitted that he faced an ‘uncertain recovery’ and a fight to retain the sight in his left eye. From the time he replaced Dave Richardson until his retirement, Boucher was South Africa’s first choice wicket-keeper, and is widely considered as one of, if not the, greatest wicket-keepers South Africa ever had. His retirement will be a big blow to the team.
Boucher averaged just over 30 with the bat with five Test centuries, but his work behind the stumps set new milestones. He has a record number of 555 dismissals in Tests and 999 in all form of international cricket, an alluring one short of the thousand marks.
“Very sad Bouch’s career had to end this way. He deserved a really good send off for all he had done for the Proteas. Congrats on a great career,” Shaun Pollock, Former South Africa all rounder said.
Mark Boucher suffered a austere eye abrasion on 9th July 2012 which led to his abrupt retirement from International cricket. There have been times when wicket-keepers went down if something happens and the affliction they tend to get is a cut on the face or head. But when Boucher dropped down to his knees it was obvious to sense that the abrasion was something out of ordinary. Like most accidents it took a brace of events for it to happen. The most eccentric was probably that Boucher was not wearing a protective helmet or glasses rather he was wearing a cap. The chances of bail flying up and catching him right on the eyeball must have been acutely slim. But that is apparently what had happened and we now only hope that Mark’s eyesight is not affected long term. Tributes poured in from colleagues, opponents and admirers from around the globe.
In a statement read out by Captain Graeme Smith, Boucher said: “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,” Boucher said in the statement.
“He’ll go down as one of the greats in the game. But right now we’re more worried about Mark the person and getting him through this situation,” Smith said.
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