ContinueMark Bocuher has retired from international cricket after suffering a sever injury to his eye while playing in a tour match against Somerset.
The South Africa wicketkeeper was standing up to the stumps on Monday as Imran Tahir clean bowled Gemaal Hussain and the bail flew up to cause a laceration on the eyeball.
Following emergency surgery on the same evening. Boucher has now made the decision to call time on his long and successful career for South Africa after learning that he would miss the upcoming series against England with the injury.
The injury will be further assessed once he has returned home to South Africa, with the announcement being made by captain Graeme Smith on Tuesday.
"It is with sadness and pain that I announce that I will not be able to play international cricket again," the statement read by Smith revealed.
"I 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-yous to make to people who have made significant contributions during my international career, which I will do in due course.For now, I would like to thank the huge number of people, many of whom are strangers, for their heartfelt support during the last 24 hours.
"I am deeply touched by all the well wishes, and I wish the team well in the UK as I head home on to a road of uncertain recovery."
Boucher calls time on his career holding the world record for the most Test dismissals, having taken 532 catches and made 23 stampings.
He scored 5,515 Test runs and had an average of just over 30, with five hundreds and 35 half centuries.
Boucher, who will be replaced behind the stumps by AB de Villiers, also made 295 one-day appearances and played in 25 Twenty20 matches for his country.
