Cricket Archive

Mark Boucher

Full name:	Mark Verdon Boucher
Born:	3rd December 1976, East London, Cape Province, South Africa
Batting:	Right-hand batsman
Bowling:	Right-arm medium pace
Wicket-keeper
Teams:	South Africa (Test: 1997/98-2008); ICC World XI (Test: 2005/06); South Africa (ODI: 1997/98-2007/08); African XI (ODI: 2005/06-2007); South Africa (Int Twenty20: 2005/06-2007/08); Border B (Main FC: 1995/96); Border (Main FC: 1995/96-2002/03); Warriors (Main FC: 2004/05); Border (Main ListA: 1995/96-2003/04); Warriors (Main ListA: 2004/05-2006/07); Eastern Cape (Main Twenty20: 2003/04); All teams
South African Cricket Annual Cricketer of the Year: 1998, 2000, 2006
Lists of matches and more detailed statistics
Articles:	South Africa enjoy crushing warm-up win
	Smith leads South African charge in second Test
	South Africa take charge of second Test
	Boucher sets wicket-keeping world record
	List of all articles
Pictures:	South Africa's Mark Boucher plays a shot against India
	South Africa's Mark Boucher celebrates his century
	Ntini Congratulates after Bouchers Century
	Boucher Hits a Six to complete his Century
	List of all pictures

It is only the presence of Adam Gilchrist that has prevented Mark Boucher being named the greatest wicket keeper batsman in the game today. In both roles Boucher’s role has been outstanding. Behind the stumps he is an energetic, acrobatic figure bringing off the most spectacular catches or lightning quick stumpings. An infectious figure Boucher is seen inspiring his teammates and goading them on for that extra effort in which he always excels. In front of the wicket Boucher is an adventurous and innovative batsman capable of big hits and is an excellent judge of the short single. With all his boyish good looks and perkiness Boucher is a shrewd observer of various aspects of the game and is frequently sought after for advice by his captain in a tight situation. Also when it comes to rescuing South Africa Boucher has few equals a quality underlined by his record ninth wicket partnership in Tests with Pat Symcox against Pakistan at Johannesburg in February 1998 when the two put on 195 after South Africa had lost eight wickets for 166. This was incidentally Boucher’s second Test match. Since then the achievements have come thick and fast – fastest to 100 dismissals in Tests, highest score by a night watchman, most innings without a bye conceded, a run of 75 consecutive Test matches from 1997 to 2004. It was Boucher who typically gave the finishing touches to most thrilling run chase ever – an unbeaten 50 as South Africa successfully chased Australia’s 434 for four at Johannesburg in 2006. A few months later he hit the second fastest century in ODIs reaching the hundred off just 44 balls against Zimbabwe on his way to an unbeaten 147 off 68 balls with ten sixes and eight fours – not surprisingly for Boucher has a career strike rate of 82.
Profile DateLine: 20th February 2007 by CricketArchive

Test Career Batting and Fielding (1997/98-2008)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	SRate	Ct	St
South Africa	116	163	21	4340	125	30.56	4	28	50.10	425	20
ICC World XI	1	2	0	17	17	8.50	0	0	37.77	2	0
Overall	117	165	21	4357	125	30.25	4	28	50.04	427	20

Test Career Bowling (2004/05)
	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	5wI	10wM	SRate	Econ
South Africa	8	0	6	1	1-6	6.00	0	0	8.00	4.50

First-Class Career Batting and Fielding (1995/96-2008)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	Ct	St
Overall	177	257	38	7380	134	33.69	8	45	598	34

First-Class Career Bowling (1995/96-2004/05)
	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	5wI	10wM	SRate	Econ
Overall	26	0	26	1	1-6	26.00	0	0	26.00	6.00

One-Day International Career Batting and Fielding (1997/98-2007/08)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	SRate	Ct	St
South Africa	258	188	48	4040	147*	28.85	1	24	83.99	360	17
African XI	5	5	0	163	73	32.60	0	1	87.63	8	1
Overall	263	193	48	4203	147*	28.98	1	25	84.12	368	18

One-Day Career Batting and Fielding (1995/96-2007/08)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	Ct	St
Overall	323	251	58	5543	147*	28.72	2	33	435	26

International Twenty20 Career Batting and Fielding (2005/06-2007/08)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	SRate	Ct
South Africa	9	7	0	134	36	19.14	0	0	89.93	9

Twenty20 Career Batting and Fielding (2003/04-2007/08)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	SRate	Ct	St
Overall	26	24	6	542	57*	30.11	0	2	109.27	17	3

Youth Test Career Batting and Fielding (1995-1995/96)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	Ct
South Africa Under-19s	6	12	0	368	116	30.66	1	2	17

Youth Test Career Bowling (1995)
	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Ave	5wI	10wM	SRate	Econ
South Africa Under-19s	45	1	35	0	0-4					4.66

Youth One-Day International Career Batting and Fielding (1995-1995/96)
	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	Ct
South Africa Under-19s	5	5	0	153	46	30.60	0	0	2