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Mark Boucher – South African cricket Training – New Years Day 2009 Sydney Cricket Ground Photo NAPARAZZI

Top 10 Facts about Mark Boucher

Mark Verdon Boucher who was born on 3rd December 1976 is a South African cricket coach and former cricketer who played all three formats of the game.Born in Capetown, Boucher was educated at Loyola College where he was coached by Thompson. 

Boucher is regarded as one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen of all time.He also holds the record for the most Test dismissals by a wicket-keeper, with 532 catches and 555 total dismissals. Let’s take a look a look at some of the top ten facts about him;

1.Boucher was South Africa’s first-choice wicketkeeper until his retirement

He made his Test debut in 1997 against Pakistan at Sheikupura, drafted into the squad at the last moment as a replacement for the injured Dave Richardson. As a youngster making his way through, he had big boots to fill. He made an immediate impact though with his agility and footwork behind the stumps and gained a lot of admirers.

From the time he replaced Dave Richardson until his retirement, Boucher was 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 (catches and stumpings) in Test cricket. 

2.He became a vice captain

Mark Boucher – South African cricket Training – New Years Day 2009 Sydney Cricket Ground Photo by NAPARAZZI

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 include a victory over Australia, an achievement which Pollock could not manage. 

He also once held the record for the highest score by a nightwatchman in Test cricket with 125 for South Africa v Zimbabwe at Harare in November 1999. 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.

3.He is one of the only eleven players to play over one hundred consecutive ODIs 

He 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 SuperSport Park in 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. 

4.He had a very serious eye injury after being struck on his left eye by a bail

The South Africa team surrounds Mark Boucher after he was hit by a bail during a tour match against Somerset in 2012 Photo by Harrias

Boucher suffered a serious eye injury on 9 July 2012, after being struck on his left eye by a bail. He was not wearing a protective helmet or glasses when he was struck by the bail after leg-spinner Imran Tahir bowled Somerset’s Gemaal Hussain. Following surgery to the eyeball, Boucher was ruled out of the rest of the tour.

Due to the severity of the injury, Boucher retired from International Cricket on 10 July.There was no damage to the retina, so it was felt that there was a chance for Boucher to recover some vision in the damaged eye.After undergoing two operations on his injured eye, surgeons announced that they were “cautiously optimistic”. 

5.He has held several records in his career

Mark Boucher – South African cricket Training – New Years Day 2009 Sydney Cricket Ground Photo NAPARAZZI

He has held several records in his career including;Holding the record for the most dismissals as wicketkeeper in all forms of international cricket (999), and holds the record for the most catches taken by a wicketkeeper in all forms of international cricket (952).

He also holds the record for playing the most T20 innings without a career duck (76), most byes conceded by a wicketkeeper in a T20I innings (15),and he along with Justin Kemp set the record for the highest 6th wicket stand in ICC Champions Trophy history (131).

6.He represented several teams as a player

He has represented several teams including; Border, Warriors, South Africa, Africa XI, ICC World XI and Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. He is currently the head coach of the South African National Men’s Cricket Team.

He had been a regular feature of the South African side since the 1997/1998 tour to Australia, until his retirement from international cricket in July 2012 after a serious eye injury against Somerse. 

7.He has also been involved in a series of controversy

On 23 August 2021, Boucher issued an apology for past racist behaviour, admitting to having participated in activities that were discriminatory and racially offensive.Boucher admitted to having been part of a group that sang offensive songs and used racial nicknames for non-Caucasian teammates. 

Boucher was also accused of having maintained poor player management during his coaching tenure with the assistant coach Enoch Nkwe. He was accused in the charge sheet for not delegating tasks to Nkwe as well as for not giving proper clarification to him which made it impossible for Nkwe to work with him.

8.He has received several awards in his career

He has received several awards in his career including; South Africa Player of the Year 1998,South Africa Player of the Year 2000, South Africa Player of the Year 2006,Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2009. He also in May 2017, he was named Coach of the Year at Cricket South Africa’s annuals awards. 

Tributes included comments from Shaun Pollock and Kevin Pietersen. Pollock congratulated him on a great career, while Pietersen called for more support from fans and those involved in sports. 

9.He has also worked as a coach for various teams

He has also worked as a coach for various team in his home country South Africa  including; In December 2019, Boucher was appointed as head coach of the South Africa national cricket team.

Boucher was also appointed head coach of the Titans in August 2016, despite having no prior coaching experience. He led the Titans to five domestic titles – two One Day Cups, two T20 Challenge titles and one four-day Sunfoil Series trophy. 

10.His net worth is around $1.2million

Mark Boucher married his long-time girlfriend, Carmen Lotter, at the age of 40.The couple held their wedding ceremony in 2017 among their friends and teammates. The couple was in a romantic relationship for a long time before getting married.And the two have 1 child. 

Mark Boucher net worth or net income is also estimated to be around $13 Million dollars. He has made such amount of wealth from his primary career as Cricket Player. He is one of the most famous cricket players from South Africa.