South Africa has called up wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile to join its test squad in England after Mark Boucher was forced to retire with an eye injury.

Cricket South Africa said on Wednesday that AB de Villiers would take over wicketkeeper duties from Boucher for the three-match series against top-ranked England and Tsolekile would be the backup.

Boucher announced his sudden retirement from international cricket on Tuesday after he suffered a ruptured left eyeball on the first day of South Africa's first tour game and underwent surgery to repair the damage.

The 31-year-old Tsolekile has played just there tests for the Proteas, his last in 2004 against England, but has been in consistently strong form in South African domestic cricket.