Veteran South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher will likely miss the first test against England and could be ruled out of the entire series after undergoing surgery on his left eye on Monday for an injury he sustained when a bail hit him in the face.
Boucher was standing up to the stumps when he was struck in the eye after legspinner Imran Tahir bowled Somerset's Gemaal Hussain and the bail flew up into the 'keeper's face. It happened on the opening day of South Africa's first tour match ahead of the three-test series against top-ranked England starting on July 19.
A South Africa team statement said Boucher would undergo surgery after sustaining a cut to the white part of the left eye. He would have to go under a general anaesthetic, team manager Mohammed Moosajee said, and it would take 48-72 hours for the swelling to go down before the eye could be assessed.
"I don't think he will be ready for the first test, if the series, but I would like to wait for the information the surgery gives us," Moosajee said.
The 35-year-old Boucher has played 147 tests and is on his final tour of England as he nears retirement from the national team. He holds the world record with 555 test dismissals, over 100 more than Australia's Adam Gilchrist.
Boucher lay face down after being struck by the bail at Taunton's County Ground in south west England and was then helped from the field with blood coming from his eye. He was taken to a hospital.
"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," Moosajee said. "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.
"The concern at the moment is for Mark Boucher the patient, rather than whether he is going to take part in the rest of the tour."
Boucher's former teammate and now South Africa bowling coach Allan Donald said the wicketkeeper, who made his test debut in 1997 as a 20-year-old, was likely in his last year in test cricket. South Africa also tours Australia this year.
"He wanted to finish here. He's been talking about maybe going, if needed, to Australia but he wanted to go out on a real high in England," Donald told Sky Sports News. "I can't think of a bigger kick in the teeth than that. To happen on the first day is a cruel blow. Let's just hope he is going to be OK."
Vice-captain A.B. de Villiers could stand in as wicketkeeper or South Africa might call up specialist Thami Tsolekile, who wasn't in the initial squad to tour England.
Moosajee said no decision on Boucher's participation or a replacement had been taken yet.
"The selectors back home are being kept abreast of what is happening," Moosajee said.
South Africa struggled on its first day of action on tour, reaching 96-2 in the two-day match after Somerset made 312-8 declared. The No. 2-ranked South Africa is aiming to overtake England at the top of the test rankings.