Veteran Proteas wicket-keeper Mark Boucher could have played his last match for South Africa on Monday after being hit in the face on the opening day of the tour match against English county side Somerset at Taunton.
Boucher, who was set to end his 15-year international career after the third and final Test against England at Lord’s, left the field with an eye injury and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
His participation for the remainder of the tour hangs in the balance after the freak accident saw him undergo eye surgery on Monday night.
He sustained “a laceration to the sclera (white area) of his left eye,” according to South Africa’s team manager, Mohammed Moosajee.
The injury happened when a bail ricocheted off the stumps, after Somerset tail-ender Gemaal Hussain was bowled by Imran Tahir.
In short statement on Monday night Moosajee, who also serves as the team’s doctor, confirmed Boucher underwent surgery, after which, according to Moosajee “the ophthalmologist will be able to determine the extent of the damage.”
Donne Commins, Boucher’s manager, was deeply concerned and said:
“It’s too early to say whether he will be able to see through that eye again because with injuries like these, there is usually a lot of blood surrounding it. But it’s incredibly reassuring to have Doctor Moosajee right there and we are confident that he will make the right decisions for Mark.”
Commins was not able to make contact with Boucher on Monday, but spoke to the 35-year-old star’s mother after she had talked to her son shortly before surgery.
Cape Times