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South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher has retired from international cricket after sustaining an eye injury during the tour of England.

Boucher, who was on his fourth tour of England, suffered the freak injury on Monday when he was struck by a flying bail while standing up to leg-spinner Imran Tahir on the opening day against Somerset.

He was initially treated on the pitch before being taken to Taunton hospital where he underwent surgery on a lacerated eyeball.

Boucher has since been discharged from hospital and will travel home on the earliest available flight. His eye is still too swollen for a long-term prediction to be made about possible effects on his sight.

After visiting Boucher in hospital, South Africa's team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee told Cricinfo: "The extent of the eye injury can be described as severe. The eyeball was repaired during the operation.

"The long-term prognosis at this stage remains unknown."

The injury is similar to one suffered by England and Middlesex wicketkeeper Paul Downton, who was forced to retire in 1990 after being struck in the eye by a dislodged bail.


In a statement, delivered by Proteas captain Graeme Smith, Boucher said he faced "a road of uncertain recovery."

Boucher played 147 Tests and currently holds the world record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper with 555.

He also claimed 425 dismissals in one day internationals.

Mark Boucher's Test career


Matches 147

Innings 206

Runs 5,515

High score 125

50s 35

100s 5

Average 30.30

Catches 532

Stumpings 23

The three-time South African player of the year (1998, 2000 and 2006) finishes with a Test batting average of 30.30, having scored 5515 runs, and a one day international batting average of 28.57, from 4686 runs scored.

"It is with sadness, and in some pain, that I make this announcement," said Boucher in his statement. "Due to the severity of my eye injury, I will not be able to play international cricket again.

South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher fears he may require to have his left eye removed as a result of the horrific injury that forced him to retire from international cricket.

Boucher, 35, suffered extensive damage to the eye when a dislodged bail flew into his face while he was standing up to leg-spinner Imran Tahir on day one of South Africa's opening tour match against Somerset last Monday.

The injury was complicated by the ball following the bail into his eye, which compounded the severity of the laceration.

A close friend of Boucher's said: 'Even if he keeps the eye, he will see only in black and white. He has already lost 30-40 per cent of the eye and there are no guarantees he will be able to keep the rest of it.'

In a world where the sports pages are dominated by diamond encrusted footballers, many people imagine all professional sportsmen to be on easy street.

That makes events such as the alleged betting scandal involving members of the Pakistan cricket team even harder for some to understand.

But many may also be surprised at how much some of the cricketers playing in the select few Test-class cricket teams earn, compared to perceptions of what a top-class professional sportsman makes.

For example, did you know Pakistan's players are on roughly the UK average wage?

Despite failing to come even close to their football playing counterparts earning power, the members of the England cricket team do much better. The central contract system is understood to give them between £250,000 to £400,000 a year – about four week's wages for a top Premier League footballer.

Australia's top cricketers get a similar amount, while South Africa's players earn around £105,000 a year.

On the other side of the coin, Pakistan's players are contracted for much less, at around £22,500 a year, while Bangladesh's players get £12,000.

Beyond their guaranteed earnings, top class cricketers will pick up extra cash in match fees, win bonuses and sponsorship opportunities.

Those picked to play in the glitzy Indian Premier League can also substantially boost their earnings. England star Kevin Pietersen is reported to be the highest-paid IPL player with a two-year $1.5million (£973,000) deal, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Below Daily Mail cricket expert Lawrence Booth, goes into more detail on how much top cricketers make.



CRICKET CENTRAL CONTRACT EARNINGS
Country Earnings
Per player, per year.
Australia 400,000
England 400,000
South Africa 105,000
India 82,500
West Indies 77,250
Sri Lanka 77,250
Pakistan 22,500
Bangladesh 12,000

Figures in Sterling.