Mark Boucher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mark Boucher

Boucher playing his last game for South Africa against Somerset in July 2012
Personal information
Full name	Mark Verdon Boucher
Born	(1976-12-03) 3 December 1976 (age 48) East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right arm medium
Role	Wicketkeeper batsman
International information
National side	South Africa (1997–2012)
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
2009–2010	Royal Challengers Bangalore
2011	Kolkata Knight Riders
Head coaching information
Years	Team
2019—2022	South Africa
2023—2024	Mumbai Indians
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 147 295 212 365 Runs scored 5,515 4,686 8,803 6,218 Batting average 30.30 28.57 33.34 28.19 100s/50s 5/35 1/26 10/53 2/35 Top score 125 147* 134 147* Balls bowled 8 – 32 – Wickets 1 – 1 – Bowling average 6.00 – 26.00 – 5 wickets in innings 0 – 0 – 10 wickets in match 0 – 0 – Best bowling 1/6 – 1/6 – Catches/stumpings 532/23 403/22 712/37 484/31
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 10 September 2017
Medal record Representing  South Africa Men's Cricket Commonwealth Games Gold 1998 Kuala Lumpur List-A cricket

Mark Verdon Boucher (born 3 December 1976) is a South African cricket coach and former player. He played in all three types of cricket games. Mark Boucher is known as one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen ever. He holds the record for the most dismissals in Test cricket by a wicket-keeper. This includes 532 catches and 555 total dismissals. Boucher was part of the South Africa team that won the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy. This was the only time South Africa has won an ICC trophy.

He played for many teams, including Border, Warriors, and South Africa. He also played for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. Mark was a regular player for South Africa from 1997 until July 2012. He had to retire from international cricket after a serious eye injury.

Early Life and Cricket Start

Mark Boucher was born in Capetown, South Africa. He went to Selborne College, where he learned cricket. His coach there was Richard Pybus.

Mark Boucher's International Cricket Career

His Role as a Wicket-keeper

Mark Boucher became South Africa's main wicketkeeper after Dave Richardson. Many people think he is the greatest wicketkeeper South Africa has ever had. He holds the record for the most dismissals (catches and stumpings) in Test cricket. He first broke this record in 2007. He caught Umar Gul in a game against Pakistan. He later caught Mushfiqur Rahim of Bangladesh to get the record back.

Boucher is also third on the list for most dismissals in One Day Internationals.

His Batting Skills

Mark Boucher once held the record for the highest score by a nightwatchman in Test cricket. He scored 125 runs for South Africa against Zimbabwe in 1999. In 2006, he scored the winning runs for South Africa against Australia. This game was known as the Greatest One Day International ever.

Later in 2006, he scored his first century in a One Day International. He hit an amazing 147 runs without being out against Zimbabwe. He reached 100 runs in just 44 balls. This was the second-fastest ODI century by a South African. He played over 100 straight ODIs for his country. He is one of only eleven players to do this.

In 2007, he and Jacques Kallis scored 28 runs off one over against Mohammad Asif. This broke the South African record for most runs in an over.

Being Vice-Captain

When Shaun Pollock was the team captain, Mark Boucher was often the vice-captain. He led the team in Test matches four times. One of these matches was a win against Australia. This was something Pollock had not been able to do.

Breaking Cricket Records

Mark Boucher started his 2007 Cricket World Cup well. He scored a half-century in just 21 balls. This was the fastest in World Cup history at the time. He scored 75 runs not out against the Netherlands.

He became the first wicketkeeper in Test cricket history to reach 400 dismissals. He achieved this by catching Danish Kaneria in a game against Pakistan in 2007.

Mark Boucher training at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2009

Even though he was South Africa's main wicket-keeper for a long time, AB de Villiers also started playing this role. However, de Villiers was also a great fielder. So, Boucher continued to play in the team.

He played in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20. The South African coach said Boucher had a chance to return to the team. Boucher was also chosen for the Test series against Pakistan. He remained South Africa's top Test wicket-keeper.

Eye Injury and Retirement

Boucher is surrounded by the South African team immediately after suffering his eye injury against Somerset in 2012.

On 9 July 2012, Mark Boucher had a serious eye injury. A bail hit his left eye. He was not wearing a helmet or glasses when it happened. This happened during a game against Somerset. After surgery, Boucher could not play the rest of the tour. Because of how serious the injury was, Boucher retired from international cricket on 10 July. He had planned to retire at the end of that tour anyway.

Doctors were hopeful that Boucher would get some vision back in his injured eye. After two operations, surgeons said they were "cautiously optimistic" about his recovery.

Coaching Career

In August 2016, Mark Boucher became the head coach of the Titans cricket team. He had no coaching experience before this. He led the Titans to win five local titles. These included two One Day Cups and two T20 Challenge titles.

In December 2019, Boucher was chosen as the head coach of the South Africa national cricket team.

In September 2022, Boucher became the head coach of Mumbai Indians. He left this role after the 2024 Indian Premier League season. Mumbai finished last in the league that year.

Awards and Achievements

Many people praised Mark Boucher after his retirement. Shaun Pollock congratulated him on a great career. Kevin Pietersen asked fans to support Boucher, calling him a "fighter."

In May 2017, he was named Coach of the Year by Cricket South Africa.

• 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 Records Held by Mark Boucher

• He holds the record for the most dismissals as a wicketkeeper in all international cricket games (999).
• He also holds the record for the most catches taken by a wicketkeeper in all international cricket (952).
• He played the most T20 innings (76) without ever getting out for a duck (zero runs).
• 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).