( CNN ) -- Mark Boucher has revealed that his hopes of returning to competitive cricket following a serious eye injury are `` unlikely '' in the near future . Boucher , whose 147 Test match caps is a record for a wicketkeeper , lost the lens , iris and pupil in his left eye after being struck by a bail during South Africa 's tour of England in July . The 35-year-old has undergone numerous medical procedures since the incident and had hoped to continue his career playing for the Cape Cobras in his homeland . But he ruled out a speedy comeback as he does not want to risk any further damage to his eye . `` It has been a difficult time for me mentally and physically , '' Boucher said in statement on Wednesday . `` I have lost the lens , iris and pupil in my left eye . There was severe damage to my retina . I have had two major operations and four blood draining operations in the past three weeks and physically , at times , I have been in a lot of pain . `` It is unlikely that I will play any professional cricket again in the near future , which is very unfortunate as I was looking forward to contributing as a player for the Cobras . '' Boucher made his Test debut for South Africa in 1997 and went on to score 5,515 runs and claim a record 555 dismissals for the Proteas before being forced to call time on his international career last month . He said he was initially unsure what had happened to him during the match in Taunton . `` All I felt was a bail hitting my eye , '' he told CNN . `` Jacques ( Kallis ) , who was standing at slip , seems to think that the ball actually helped the bail into my eye . I knew I was in trouble when my head hit the floor . `` I knew some fluid was coming out of my eye . I thought it might have been blood ... when I saw there was no blood in it and there was sort of white stuff coming out of it I knew I was in a bit of trouble . '' The Cape Province native initially prepared himself for the worst where his eye was concerned , but he is now feeling positive about his ongoing recovery . `` When I first went to hospital the doctor said , 'Listen , you know your eye is pretty messed up . I asked him to be honest with me and he said to me , 'It 's too early to say , but be mindful you might never get vision back in your eye . ' `` The pupil can be replaced , the iris can be replaced , the cornea can be replaced , the retina can be replaced . The biggest thing is the retina ; that is mine and the doctor 's biggest worry . '' Boucher said many people had expressed sympathy for the sudden end to his top-level career . `` A lot of people have said to me , 'Shame , I feel sorry for you . ' If you would have told me at the beginning of my career I would have played 147 Test matches I would have taken it ! `` I had plans , hopefully with both eyes working , to do quite a lot of things . I believe you get dealt certain cards that you might not enjoy , but things you can handle and I know I can handle this . `` Yes it 's going to be tough , tough on me , tough on a few other people . But I believe I 've got the strength to be able to handle it . ''
South Africa 's Mark Boucher rules out a quick return to cricket . Boucher was forced to retire from international cricket with an eye injury . The wicketkeeper lost the pupil , iris and lens in his left eye after being hit by a bail . Boucher is the most-capped wicketkeeper in the history of Test cricket .