Arthur Lauds Retiring Boucher

Former South Africa coach, Mickey Arthur, believes that Mark Boucher should rightly be seen as one of the greatest wicket keepers of all time.

The 35-year-old is back home in South Africa recovering from emergency eye surgery, following a freak injury playing for the Proteas against Somerset.

Standing up to the deliveries of Imran Tahir, the ball hit the stumps and sent a bail spinning into Boucher’s eye. He was quickly rushed to hospital, where he was treated for a lacerated eyeball.

It was a shocking injury, and one that instantly ended Boucher’s hopes of playing on the tour. The next day, Boucher formally announced his retirement from international cricket.

It is a tragic way for Boucher to end his international career, with this summer’s tour of England poised to be his swansong – the final Test of the three match series was to be his 150th cap.

Sadly, he now has to bow out and concentrate on his recovery, with the long-term prognosis concerning his sight still unknown.

One crumb of comfort though is that with 555 Test victims, including 532 catches – both world records – and 425 dismissals in one-day internationals to his name, his impact on world cricket will never be forgotten by fans on Betfair Cricket.

Certainly, his former coach, Arthur, who led the South Africans between 2005 and 2010, is in no doubt as to his standing in the world game.

“He’s right up there,” said Arthur. “You look at his batting and wicket-keeping stats, and they are phenomenal. He’s going to be hugely missed.

“He is a real guy that you wanted on your side. He never ever gave up, and that is how you will remember him.”

AB De Villiers will keep wicket for the first Test at the Oval, next week, with Thami Tsolekile called up as Boucher’s direct replacement.

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