New Zealand pacer Iain O’Brien has announced plans of retirement from international cricket at the end of the ongoing test series against Pakistan on 5th December, 2009. He will be continuing to play county cricket for Middlesex in UK. He is said to have made these choices to deal with personal matters.
O’Brien said after his announcement, “My wife lives and works in the UK and my immediate future is there. Since we married, two and a half years ago, we have spent only nine months together. I am 33 years old and my main focus now is becoming a ‘proper’ husband, starting a family, settling down and securing my future in that country. Cricket has been my number one; I’ve placed it in front of everything else. It’s now time to put Rosie first and start a family. I intend to keep playing the game I love in the UK, and have an opportunity to finish my career with Middlesex County.”
He also show gratitude to the New Zealand Cricket Board for supporting his decision, “I would like to thank New Zealand Cricket for supporting me in this decision. I would also like to acknowledge Dan Vettori> for his support and confidence in me in recent years, plus the boys I’ve been on the park with and trained with for whom it has been a pleasure to represent my country with. I have had an opportunity to play with some New Zealand greats and I will only look back with fondness on my time spent with them on and off the park.” He closed his decision with the final words, “This has been one very tough decision and I walk away with a heavy heart but I know, for certain, that I have made the right decision for me, my wife and my future.”
At the ongoing test, O’Brien has taken nine wickets against the opponents including 3 from the second innings at Dunedin after suffering from a finger injury. His overall record for internationals stands at 27 wickets with 10 coming from one-days and the rest from Test matches. Representing Leicestershire in 2009, O’Brien took 21 dismissals including a nine wicket haul.
O’Brien made his international debut for New Zealand in March 2005 against Australia and has played 20 test matches with 61 dismissals contributing to an average of 35.11. He has taken part in 4 Twenty20 matches taking 6 wickets.
Justin Vaughan, the New Zealand Cricket chief has appreciated O’Brien for his contribution to the game of cricket and expressed regret saying that the quickie will be missed. We respect his reasons for retirement and wish him the best. He gives his all on the park, and his genuine commitment and infectious personality are there to see on and off the field. We are sorry to see Iain go - he has made a big contribution to New Zealand cricket over the past five years. He has been a consistent performer, and has always given everything to the game, as demonstrated by his tremendous efforts in the past two test matches,” the chief added.