NZ wicketkeeper Parore announces retirement

New Zealand Test player Adam Parore will bow out of first-class cricket after the third and final Test against England in Auckland which begins on Saturday.

The 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman released a statement through New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Wednesday to end recent speculation concerning his future.

NZC chief executive Martin Snedden said: "Adam has served his country and his team mates over a 12-year period at the highest level.

"His contribution deserves the highest praise and recognition from New Zealand cricket fans."

Snedden said: "Adam is a gifted player who has worked hard at his game and his fitness. His athleticism and natural instinct as a gloveman have been outstanding features of his game."

Parore had nothing to add, saying he had a Test match to prepare for and would do all his talking on the field before holding a press conference at the end of the match.

"There's nothing I want to add at this time," he said. "It's all in the statement and I will talk after the game."

Parore is chasing a personal milestone in Auckland, his 78th Test. He holds the New Zealand Test record of 196 wicketkeeping dismissals (189 catches and seven stumpings).

HISTORY BID

Should he take four more he will become only the eighth wicketkeeper in the game's history to achieve 200 Test dismissals.

He also took three outfield catches when he was deposed as wicketkeeper.

Parore also holds the New Zealand record for most dismissals in one-day internationals, having made 116 catches and 25 stumpings since his ODI debut in 1992.

He has played 179 ODIs and appeared in two World Cups.

Parore made his Test debut in 1990 in the final Test against England at Edgbaston -- Richard Hadlee's last Test -- and has scored 2,784 runs at an average of 26.01, hitting two centuries and 14 half-centuries.

His highest score was 110 against Australia in Perth last November on the same day three other New Zealanders -- Lou Vincent, Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle -- also scored centuries.

Parore's career has not been without controversy. He missed out on a number of Test caps following a dispute with coach Glenn Turner in the mid-1990s.

He was dropped as wicketkeeper in favour of Turner's captain Lee Germon and played in eight matches as a batsman only.

Parore returned home early from the 1995-96 tour of the West Indies under Turner's command.

In the subsequent visit by England in 1996-97, now under Australian Steve Rixon as coach, captain-wicketkeeper Germon was injured and Parore returned to the fold to turn in some good performances with the gloves and the bat.

While Parore can be a chatterbox on the field and is known as a champion "sledger", he is taciturn off it.

England lead the current series 1-0.

Mail Cricket Editor