Mark Boucher retires

[Smoooothy]

Just saw the footage. Got hit in the eye by a bail. Has been forced to retire due to a lacerated eyeball

Sad way to go out. He was a gun keeper and one of the great sledgers

 

[beez]

Mark Boucher was a fantastic cricketer, both behind the stumps and with the bat. I'd rate his career a 9 or a 9.5, yeah 9.5, so I'll make it a 10.

 

[jonesy03]

got a link to the footage? he ends his career on 999 dismissals

 

[The Passenger]

incredible way to go out. not in a good way obviously.

one of the great wicket keepers of all time.

just mind blown that happened to him.

 

[The Passenger]

just read the 999 bit. that's cruel. hopefully he get his eye in a good enough state that in 12 months time they can play him in a couple of T20's to give him a crack at the 1000. would be about the only time you'd see some true emotion in a T20 game.

 

[fairdinkum]

Just heard the news about the incident. Woeful luck.

It is the fear of something like this happening which has meant I always wear a helmet when batting and keeping up to the stumps, even against the slowest spuds at the club.

Hoping for his sake he can make a full recovery.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Was a very good keeper, but in all honesty nothing more than an average batsman.

Sad way to go out, but kudos on the lengthy career.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

All the best Mark

 

[Smoooothy]

 

[damochandler]

hope for a full recovery that's for sure

his records won't be broken

 

[DrVanNostrand]

Geez, what a terrible way to go. Even after he'd said for a while now it was going to be his last tour and his 150th (and final) Test was to be at Lord's.

He's been around for as long as I've been watching international cricket. Will seem surreal to me to see someone else don the gloves in Tests for South Africa.

This bloke is his heir apparent http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/47630.html Amost 32...

 

[DrVanNostrand]

It's actually 998 dismissals. He took one catch in the field in an ODI against the West Indies in Trinidad in 2010. Info courtesy of Cricinfo.

Don't forget his amazing Test bowling record: 1 wicket @ 6.00 http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/208321.html

 

[fairdinkum]

It's actually 998 dismissals. He took one catch in the field in an ODI against the West Indies in Trinidad in 2010. Info courtesy of Cricinfo.

Don't forget his amazing Test bowling record: 1 wicket @ 6.00 http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/208321.html

Jaysus, what a crazy match. Didn't remember that one.

 

[Miqar_Baqfhied]

Fantastic cricketer, great stalwart for South African cricket. Sad way to go out.

He was a consistent good batsman contrary to what others think - more consistent than most the Aussie team, hence him getting picked for ten years. Would have him over Haddin and Wade any day. Plus he had fight and some kent about him.

Is he blinded or something? Amazing how a bail can do that.

 

[western royboy]

Fantastic cricketer, great stalwart for South African cricket. Sad way to go out.

He was a consistent good batsman contrary to what others think - more consistent than most the Aussie team, hence him getting picked for ten years. Would have him over Haddin and Wade any day. Plus he had fight and some kent about him.

Is he blinded or something? Amazing how a bail can do that.

It's unclear whether he will get his sight back in the left eye as yet. A one in a million incident, but as a former keeper who suffered a similar (not as serious) injury, wearing of helmets and faceguards should just about become mandatory.

 

[Slax]

It's a shame to see such a reat keeper finish his career like this. Excellent gloveman and solid batsman.

Would rather have a keeper who is handy with the batm, rather than a batsman who can keep a bit.

 

[Demon JP]

haha the irony, no wonder Tatenda Taibu retired, finishes up averaging 30.31 to boucher's 30.30

For those who haven't seen

 

[Cotchin 9]

Mark Boucher was a fantastic cricketer, both behind the stumps and with the bat. I'd rate his career a 9 or a 9.5, yeah 9.5, so I'll make it a 10.

Absolutely lost it, lovely beez. But in all seriousness, great career and a tragic way to go out.

 

[The_Reaper]

Good keeper and I wish he reached the 1000 mark.

 

[The Passenger]

It's actually 998 dismissals. He took one catch in the field in an ODI against the West Indies in Trinidad in 2010. Info courtesy of Cricinfo.

Don't forget his amazing Test bowling record: 1 wicket @ 6.00 http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/208321.html

never seen that match before. would imagine that's the only time pollock, ntini and kallis combined for 1/300.

 

[Hellgood]

Terrific keeper and a gritty batsman. Sad to see him go out like this, feels as though he has been around forever.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Good keeper and I wish he reached the 1000 mark.

Sometimes falling just short of a landmark like this only makes their legend grow bigger after they retire.

 

[The_Reaper]

Sometimes falling just short of a landmark like this only makes their legend grow bigger after they retire.

Like the Don

 

[red+black]

I was saddened to hear about this. Deserved to retire on his own terms. Hope he makes a full recovery although the signs are not great. I'm not sure why everyone is saying he has 998 or 999 international dismissals:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/44111.html

       W   Ct  St
-----------------------
TESTS  1  532  23  556
ODIs   0  403  22  425
T20Is  0   18   1   19
                 -----
                  1000
 
PS: code with the new software sucks balls

 

[sherb]

I was saddened to hear about this. Deserved to retire on his own terms. Hope he makes a full recovery although the signs are not great. I'm not sure why everyone is saying he has 998 or 999 international dismissals:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/44111.html

      W  Ct  St
-----------------------
TESTS  1  532  23  556
ODIs  0  403  22  425
T20Is  0  18  1  19
                -----
                  1000
 
PS: code with the new software sucks balls

I see what you did there. You caught me out.

998 international wicket keeping dismissals.
999 international fielding/wicket keeping dismissals.
1000 international dismissals in total.

Nice set of numbers.