Adam Parore

An Auckland first-class player since 1988, Adam Parore announced his retirement on the eve of the final Test against England at Auckland in March 2002, after more than a decade of service to New Zealand cricket. His form might have been expected to decline with age, but instead the super-fit Parore (who sometimes jogged home after a hard day in the field) reached the peak of his wicketkeeping powers in 2000-01, at the age of 30. In the mid-1990s Parore was often at odds with the New Zealand establishment, and was given to expressive verbal advice from behind the stumps. But he later fitted comfortably into the senior-pro role, both in encouraging the work of the young New Zealand bowlers, and re-polishing his own ability as perhaps the most consistent keeper in world cricket. His batting could occasionally be top-notch too. When Lee Germon took over as captain and wicketkeeper in the mid-1990s, Parore kept his place as New Zealand's regular No. 3, and in 2001-02 at Perth he helped Nathan Astle add 253 for the eighth wicket - of which Parore made 110 - against the best attack in the world. Parore described the feat as "pretty cool", but by the end of that season his enthusiasm had gone. Six years after retirement, he made a surprise decision by joining the Indian Cricket League after signing a two-year contract with the Chennai Superstars.
Don Cameron March 2008