Mark Boucher

Mark Boucher

Personal information
Full name	Mark Verdon Boucher
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	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 144 295 206 365 Runs scored 5,407 4,686 8,515 6,218 Batting average 30.20 28.57 33.13 28.19 100s/50s 5/35 1/26 9/53 2/35 Top score 125 147* 134 147* Balls bowled 8 – 26 – 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 521/23 403/22 699/37 484/31
Source: Cricinfo, 6 January 2012

Mark Verdon Boucher (born 3 December 1976) is a retired South African cricketer, 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 has been a regular feature of the South African side since the 1997/1998 tour to Australia.

He suffered a serious eye injury on July 9, 2012 after struck on his left eye by a bail on the opening day of South Africa’s tour match against Somerset at Taunton. Due to the severity of the injury, Boucher - who had planned to retire at the end of the tour - retired from International Cricket on July 10th 2012.

Notable achievements

Boucher is currently, and has been so ever since he replaced Dave Richardson, South Africa's first-choice wicketkeeper, and is widely regarded as one of, if not the, greatest wicketkeepers 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 wicketkeeper 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.

Later in 2006, on 20 September, he made his maiden ODI century, hitting an unbeaten 147 against Zimbabwe from a mere 68 balls. His hundred came up off just 44 balls, the second-fastest ODI century ever. Boucher did benefit, however, from some very poor Zimbabwean fielding, being dropped no fewer than six times during his innings. He has played over one hundred consecutive ODIs for his country and is one of only eleven players, including Hansie Cronjé and Shaun Pollock, to achieve this. In February 2007 he and Jacques Kallis combined to hit Mohammad Asif for 28 runs off an over in an ODI at Centurion. It broke the South African record for most runs off an over which was previously held by both Shaun Pollock and Graeme Smith with 27. However, this was later broken by Herschelle Gibbs with 36 runs off one over, the most possible without no-balls or wides.

In the period while the team was under Shaun Pollock's leadership, Boucher was the regular vice-captain of the team and lead the team in tests four times. These matches includes a victory over Australia, an achievement which Pollock could not manage. Boucher started his 2007 World Cup campaign in good form with a 21-ball half century, the then fastest in World Cup history (before being beaten by Brendon McCullum's 20-ball effort six days later) - scoring 75 not out against the Netherlands as South Africa scored 353 for 4 wickets in a rain-shortened World Cup match. However, this was overshadowed by Herschelle Gibbs's six sixes in an over, the 3rd time ever in world cricket and first time in a One Day International match, and thus in the World Cup. He became the first wicketkeeper in the history of test cricket to reach the milestone of 400 dismissals when he caught Danish Kaneria off the bowling of Makhaya Ntini on October 10, 2007 in the second test of the Bank Alfalah Test Series against Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Despite being South Africa's consistent wicket-keeper for a long time, age meant that batsman AB de Villiers was given a chance with the gloves and he impressed. However de Villiers is one of the teams best outfielders and therefore Boucher continued to feature in the team. He participated in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 and the South African coach Corrie van Zyl said that both Boucher and Herschelle Gibbs have the chance to get back in the team. He stated that Boucher will get his chance in the team provided that he performs in the domestic ODI tournament he also stated that both of them had a good chance in playing for the 2011 Cricket World Cup He was however still selected for the Test series against Pakistan and continues to be South Africa's number one test wicket-keeper Also during that time Boucher recovered from his six-week shoulder injury and stated that he is desperate for a return to international cricket. He stated that his main aim was to participate in the 2011 Cricket World Cup

Eye injury and retirement

Mark Boucher suffered a serious eye injury on July 9, 2012 after being struck on his left eye by a bail on the opening day of South Africa’s tour match against Somerset at Taunton. He was not wearing a protective helmet nor glasses. Following surgery to the eyeball, Boucher was ruled out of the rest of the tour. Due to the severity of the injury, Boucher - who had planned to retire at the end of the tour - retired from International Cricket on July 10th.

Boucher left the game as the wicketkeeper with the most number of dismissals in Tests (555) – more than a hundred ahead of the second-placed Adam Gilchrist who ended his career with 416. Boucher also has the most number of overall dismissals in international cricket for a wicketkeeper (999 – one of these as an outfielder), with Gilchrist placed second again.

Tributes poured in from colleagues, opponents and admirers from around the world.

Shaun Pollock, Former South Africa all rounder said, "Very sad Bouch’s career had to end in this way. He deserved a really good send off for all he had done for the Proteas. Congrats on a great career."

Kevin Pietersen, England batsman said, "Some truly amazing support for Mark Boucher from the sports world and its fans. Let’s keep it going! Bouch is a fighter!"

External links

• Mark Boucher's official site
• Cricinfo profile