Eye injury may hasten Boucher’s retirement

Boucher, who at 35 had hinted he was considering retirement after the series, was struck by a bail during the opening afternoon of the two-day tour match against Somerset at Taunton.

Boucher was helped from the field with blood coming from his eye after the incident, which occurred when leg-spinner Imran Tahir bowled Gemaal Hussain. The wicketkeeper, wearing a cap rather than a helmet, had been standing up to the stumps.

South Africa team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee said: “It is a significant injury. Mark sustained a direct blow to the left eye, which resulted in a laceration to the white part. It is what we call an eyeball rupture.

“The ophthalmic surgeon had a look at him at the Accident and Emergency Unit and decided that he needed to undergo exploratory surgery to identify the extent of the damage. He will need a general anaesthetic so there has to be a six-hour gap since he last ate a meal.”

That meant the operation was due to be performed at around 7pm.

“After the operation we will talk to the surgeon again. With eye injuries one cannot make predictions,” added Dr Moosajee.

“From a medical point of view a lot depends on whether there is damage to the retina, which allows us to see and focus. We won’t know about that until after the surgery.”

Dr Moosajee was more worried about Boucher’s health than his place in the side but a decision will have to be made whether to continue with AB de Villiers keeping wicket or send for specialist replacement Thami Tsolekile.

Somerset’s Peter Trego, a centurion on the day, said: “All our thoughts are with Mark Boucher. Sight is such an important thing for a cricketer and we all hope the injury is not as serious as it looked.”

England, who have won the one-day international series against Australia, seek to seal a 4-0 whitewash at Old Trafford today and headed to Manchester having won nine successive ODIs.

Australian pace bowler Mitchell Johnson, who missed Saturday’s eight-wicket defeat to England at Chester-le-Street with a sore foot, is fit for selection.

England (from): AN Cook (Captain), IR Bell, IJL Trott, RS Bopara, EJG Morgan, C Kieswetter (wkt), SR Patel, TT Bresnan, SCJ Broad, ST Finn, JM Anderson, JC Tredwell, CR Woakes.

Australia (from): MJ Clarke (Captain), DA Warner, MS Wade (wkt), GJ Bailey, DJ Hussey, SPD Smith, MG Johnson, CJ McKay, JL Pattinson, BW Hilfenhaus, MA Starc, XJ Doherty, PJ Forrest.

Umpires: A Dar (Pak) and I Gould.