South African cricketing doyens have paid glowing tribute to fiesty cricketer Mark Boucher who announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday.
Boucher was hit in the left eye on Monday when a bail richocheted into his face off an Imraan Tahir delivery on the opening day of the Proteas first tour match of England against Somerset.
In a statement read out by Proteas 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."
He said he "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."
Smith also gave a personal message to his team mate and friend he has been playing with for the past 14 years saying they had "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."
Former Proteas team mate Makhaya Ntini said he was saddened by the news.
"Its a sad thing you know, the way he is getting out, finishing his cricket career. I think everybody should be sad about it because he's one of the heroes you know. When times were tough he always stood up to be counted for the team," Ntini said.
"For me he was a friend and a brother because we grew up in East London, we played cricket together from an early age from Bakers (cricket series) to international. When I think of the way he is finishing his career it should be a lesson to each and everyone of us, getting out of cricket because of injury," said Ntini.
EP Cricket boss Dave Emslie said said he found Boucher "to be forever courteous, always, always the best interest of the team at heart and great contributor to the team effort on and off the field."
Cricketing doyen, Dr Ali Bacher, said Boucher was one of the greatest cricketers this country has every produced, an icon in world cricket when it comes to wicket-keeping/batting.
"The only wicket-keeper to have 999 international victims in his back pocket which is extraordinary. Only two wicket keepers have played more than 100 test matches, Ian Healey (119), Mark Boucher (147). "
"But, what he will be remembered for is two things. One is a tremendous fighter and number two, a tremendous pressure player. When the chips were down, South Africa were in trouble, Mark Boucher you knew would come to the rescue for South Africa," Bacher said.
Boucher made his debut for the Proteas as a 20-year-old against Pakistan in Sheikhpura in October 1997 and has since gone on to set two world records, including most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in Tests with 555 and 999 international dismissals in all forms of the game.
(wallpaper image - courtesy CSA)
