South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday after undergoing eye surgery following a severe injury this week.
His left eyeball was lacerated after being struck by a bail during a tour match against English county side Somerset in Taunton on Monday.
''It is with sadness, and in some pain, that I make this announcement. Due to the severity of my eye injury, I will not be able to play international cricket again,'' Boucher, 35, said in a statement posted on Cricket South Africa's website.
''I had never anticipated announcing my retirement now, but circumstances have dictated differently.''
Boucher was keeping wicket to leg-spinner Imran Tahir on Monday during a warm-up match for the three-match Test series against England.
A spinning delivery dislodged the wooden bail which then flew into his face and he was forced to leave the field with blood coming from his eye. He had eye surgery a few hours later.
Boucher played 147 tests and currently holds the world record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper with 555. He also scored five test centuries and averaged 30.
