Goodbye Mark Boucher

[Ajfar]

As Atahar would say, 'Wadda Player'. One of the best of all time. Together Mark Boucher and Adam Gilchrist redefined the term, 'Wicket Keeper'. They set the bar up really really high for generations to come.

This year Mark Boucher will be home for Christmas.

The thought made him smile. "I'm looking forward to the normal life. I can stay at home for a while and do normal things with my mates and my family. I haven't spent a Christmas at home for 15 years so it will be nice to do that," he said. "It's sad times but good times ahead."

Sad because after a decade and a half of dominating the South African wicketkeeper's role, Boucher is calling it a day - probably after the England series in July. Good because in that time he has built a record that could easily take twice as long to break. Good because he has been part of a South Africa side that has conquered home and away for years and, by the time he retires, could be the No. 1 Test side in the world. Definitely more good than sad, then.

"If it's my time to go then it's my time to go," he said. "If I'm not performing then I'm not performing. If there is a guy that's the same standard as me but he is ten years younger, then I understand that he is going to get the opportunity."

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