Former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur hailed the "phenomenal" Mark Boucher after the Proteas wicketkeeper was forced into premature international retirement by a freak eye injury
Boucher had to undergo three hours of surgery after being struck in the left eyeball by a bail on the first day of South Africa’s opening match of their tour of England against Somerset at Taunton on Monday.
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“I was really disappointed for him,” Arthur, now coaching Australia, told BBC Radio ahead of the fifth one-day international against England at Old Trafford here yesterday.
“I know he wanted to come here because he wanted it to be his real swansong as a Test series, so it is really disappoint
ing to end this way for Mark.”
Arthur, who worked with Boucher at both domestic and international level, added: “I have lots of memories as his coach, too many memories.
“I think he’s right up there (with the best wicketkeepers), you have a look at his batting and wicketkeeping stats and they’re phenomenal.”