Di Venuto retires from county cricket

Michael Di Venuto, the Durham batsman, has retired from county cricket with immediate effect after six years with the club.

Di Venuto, 37, scored 6488 first-class runs for Durham since joining in 2007 including a tally of 1654 in 2009 when the county won the second of their back-to-back Championship titles. However, this season he had averaged 29.10 from five matches and decided he could no longer reach the levels required for the first-class game.

"My body won't allow me to prepare and play the way I want," he said. "I set high standards for myself and if I was to continue playing then it would be below these standards. While I know I still have some quality short form cricket in me, the day in day out nature of first-class cricket I physically can't do anymore.

"My time at Durham has been incredible. To play with a great bunch of blokes in some history making teams is something that I will cherish and look back on fondly. My family and I have loved our time in the North East and have some wonderful memories to take home with us. I'd like to thank everyone involved with the club for making our time here so enjoyable. We will miss Durham CCC."

Geoff Cook, the head coach said: "Michael has been a prolific run scorer for the club during his time here and is a much respected player, who will be greatly missed. He has proved to be a real inspiration on the field and the knowledge and guidance he has shared with our squad, especially the batsmen, has encouraged growth within the side.

"Michael should be incredibly proud of his time here at Durham and we wish him all the very best with his future endeavours."

Prior to his lengthy stay at Durham, Di Venuto, who appeared in nine one-day internationals for Australia, also played for Derbyshire and Sussex