SOUTH Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher has retired from Test match cricket after suffered a serious eye injury while playing against Somerset at the County Ground yesterday.

The 35-year-old was struck by a bail while standing up to the stumps.

He was due to retire at the end of the Test series against England but has brought the date forward.

Boucher underwent surgery last night at Musgrove Park Hospital for a deep cut on an eyeball but is expected to make a full recovery.

Boucher has played 147 Tests for South Africa and holds the record for most victims in the five-day format with 555.

He was not wearing a helmet when he was struck by the bail after leg-spinner Imran Tahir bowled Somerset's Gemaal Hussain.

Boucher, in his fourth tour of England, was treated on the field before being helped from the pitch.

The tourists finished the day on 96-2 after Somerset declared on 312-8.

Somerset were 32-4 at one stage but hit back with a fifth wicket stand of 183 between James Hildreth and Pete Trego.

Trego smashed 104 from only 63 balls, while Hildreth scored exactly 100.