Mark Boucher facts for kids
Boucher playing his last game for South Africa against Somerset in July 2012
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| Full name |
Mark Verdon Boucher
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| Born | 3 December 1976 East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
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| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right arm medium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Wicket-keeper-batsman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 267) | 17 October 1997 v Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 3 January 2012 v Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 46) | 16 January 1998 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 28 October 2011 v Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI shirt no. | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I debut (cap 2) | 21 October 2005 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 10 May 2010 v Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I shirt no. | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995/96–2002/03 | Border | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004/05–2012 | Warriors | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Kolkata Knight Riders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coaching information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019—2022 | South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023—2024 | Mumbai Indians | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Source: ESPNcricinfo, 10 September 2017
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Mark Verdon Boucher, born on December 3, 1976, is a South African cricket coach and a former player. He played all three types of cricket games. Many people think Mark Boucher is one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen ever. He holds the record for the most Test dismissals by a wicket-keeper. He made 532 catches and had 555 total dismissals.
He was part of the South African team that won the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy. This was the only time the country had won an ICC trophy until the 2025 World Test Championship final.
Mark Boucher played for several teams during his career. These included Border, Warriors, and the South Africa national team. He also played for Africa XI, ICC World XI, and in the Indian Premier League. In the IPL, he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders.
He was a regular player for South Africa from 1997/1998. He retired from international cricket in July 2012. This happened after he got a serious eye injury while playing against Somerset.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mark Boucher was born in East London, South Africa. He went to Selborne College. There, he was coached by Richard Pybus.
International Cricket Career
Wicket-keeping Skills
Mark Boucher became South Africa's main wicket-keeper after Dave Richardson. He kept this role until he retired. Many people consider him one of the best wicket-keepers South Africa has ever had.
He holds the record for the most dismissals in Test cricket. This includes both catches and stumpings. He first broke this record on October 3, 2007. He overtook former Australian wicket-keeper Ian Healy in a Test match against Pakistan. He then lost the record to Adam Gilchrist but got it back in February 2008. This happened when he caught Mushfiqur Rahim of Bangladesh.
Boucher is also third on the all-time list for dismissals in One Day Internationals.
Batting Achievements
In November 1999, Mark Boucher scored 125 runs against Zimbabwe. This was the highest score by a nightwatchman in Test cricket at the time.
On March 12, 2006, he hit the winning runs for South Africa against Australia. This game was known as the Greatest One Day International ever played.
Later in 2006, on September 20, he scored his first ODI century. He hit an unbeaten 147 runs against Zimbabwe from just 68 balls. His century came off only 44 balls. This was the second-fastest ODI century by a South African, after AB de Villiers. Boucher was dropped six times during his innings, which helped him score so many runs.
He played over 100 consecutive ODIs for his country. He is one of only eleven players to achieve this. Other players include Hansie Cronjé and Shaun Pollock.
In February 2007, he and Jacques Kallis scored 28 runs off one over against Mohammad Asif. This happened in an ODI at SuperSport Park in Centurion. It broke the South African record for most runs off an over. This record was later broken by Herschelle Gibbs with 36 runs off one over.
Vice-Captaincy Role
When Shaun Pollock was the captain, Mark Boucher was often the vice-captain. He led the team in Test matches four times. One of these matches was a victory over Australia. This was an achievement that Pollock had not managed as captain.
Breaking Cricket Records
Boucher started his 2007 Cricket World Cup well. He scored a half-century in 21 balls. This was the fastest in World Cup history at the time. He scored 75 not out against the Netherlands. South Africa scored 353 for 4 wickets in that rain-shortened match. However, Herschelle Gibbs overshadowed this by hitting six sixes in one over. This was the first time it happened in a One Day International match and in the World Cup.
On October 10, 2007, he became the first wicket-keeper in Test cricket history to reach 400 dismissals. He caught Danish Kaneria off the bowling of Makhaya Ntini. This happened in a Test match against Pakistan in Lahore.
Even though Boucher was South Africa's main wicket-keeper for a long time, AB de Villiers also started keeping wickets. De Villiers is also one of the team's best outfielders. Because of this, Boucher continued to play in the team.
He played in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20. The South African coach, Corrie van Zyl, said that Boucher had a chance to return to the team. He needed to perform well in the domestic ODI tournament. Boucher was selected for the Test series against Pakistan. He remained South Africa's top Test wicket-keeper. Boucher also recovered from a six-week shoulder injury. He wanted to return to international cricket. His main goal was to play in the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
Eye Injury and Retirement
Mark Boucher suffered a serious eye injury on July 9, 2012. A bail hit his left eye. He was not wearing a helmet or glasses when it happened. This occurred after leg-spinner Imran Tahir bowled Somerset's Gemaal Hussain. After surgery, Boucher could not play for the rest of the tour. He had planned to retire at the end of the tour. Due to the severe injury, he retired from International Cricket on July 10, 2012.
His retina was not damaged. Doctors thought there was a chance for him to get some vision back in his injured eye. After two operations, surgeons were "cautiously optimistic" about his recovery.
Coaching Career
In August 2016, Mark Boucher became the head coach of the Titans. He had no prior coaching experience. He led the Titans to five domestic titles. These included two One Day Cups, two T20 Challenge titles, and one four-day Sunfoil Series trophy.
In December 2019, Boucher was appointed as the head coach of the South Africa national cricket team.
In September 2022, Boucher became the head coach of Mumbai Indians. He was replaced as head coach after the 2024 Indian Premier League season. Mumbai Indians finished last in the table that season.
Awards and Honours
Many people praised Mark Boucher after his retirement. Shaun Pollock congratulated him on a great career. Kevin Pietersen asked fans to support him, saying "Bouch is a fighter!".
In May 2017, he was named Coach of the Year. This award was given at Cricket South Africa's annual awards.
- 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
Key Achievements
- He holds the record for the most dismissals as a wicketkeeper in all international cricket games (998).
- He holds the record for the most catches taken by a wicketkeeper in all international cricket games (952).
- He holds the record for playing the most T20 innings without getting out for a duck (76).
- He conceded the most byes by a wicketkeeper in a T20I innings (15).
- He and Justin Kemp set the record for the highest 6th wicket partnership in ICC Champions Trophy history (131 runs).
