Paying tribute to Adam Gilchrist, who announced his retirement after the third day of fourth and final Test at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday, South African wicket-keeper Mark Boucher said nobody in world cricket can fill the Australian paramounts’ place.

Gilchrist on Friday eclipsed his rival Boucher’s record of 413 dismissals, when he caught India skipper Anil Kumble on the second day of the Test. The catch gave Gilchrist his 414th victim.

Boucher congratulated Gilchrist for his astounding contribution.

“The night before I had sent him a text message after he went past me on the (Test dismissals) list, saying, ‘congratulations on an incredible career, long may it continue,’’ Boucher told The Sun-Herald from Cape Town on Saturday night. “I really thought he could go on for another three or four years, but I guess with his family commitments he decided the right time to go was now.

There have probably been better wicket-keepers in the game, but he revolutionised the game in terms of being a wicketkeeper-batsman. Gilly is streets ahead of the rest in that regard. Absolutely, he is the guy who set the tone for everyone else in the game, and he has changed it forever,” he said.