South African-born batsman Robin Smith has announced his retirement from first-class cricket after 22 years with Hampshire and a successful international career with England.
Smith, who played in 62 Tests for England, decided to call it a day on the eve of his 40th birthday after a frustrating season with injuries. He is currently sidelined with a hamstring problem.
”I feel now is the right time to go although I know I shall miss cricket badly,” Smith said.
”I find it difficult to get over injuries as quickly as I did and at my age I am not going to get any better.”
Smith began his career when South Africa was still in international isolation because of apartheid.
He qualified for England through British parentage and followed his elder brother Chris to Hampshire in 1982 as a teenager. He has since scored 18 984 runs for the county.
For England his 62 Tests between 1988 and 1996 produced 4 236 runs at an average of 43,67. He also played in 71 one-day internationals, his England career ending after the 1996 tour of South Africa.
Hampshire chairperson Rod Bransgrove said Smith would go down as one of the county’s greats.
”Robin came to us a raw teenager and leaves as one of the best players ever to play for the club. Only two players have scored more than his 49 centuries for us.”
Former Zimbabwean international Andy Flower meanwhile has signed a new two-year contract with Essex.
The 35-year-old batsman, who retired from international cricket after this year’s World Cup, has dual nationality and becomes qualified to play as a local non-overseas player in 2004.
Essex chief executive David East said: ”Andy has been a model overseas player for the last two seasons and, following the conclusion of his international career, we are delighted he has signed a two year contract with us.
”He has a British passport and will play in Essex as a local player, which obviously enables us to keep our second overseas player option open having already secured [Australian] Scott Brant for 2004.” — Sapa-AFP