Goodwin announces retirement

Murray Goodwin has brought the curtain down on a 20-year professional career with the announcement he will retire at the end of this season for Glamorgan.

Goodwin made his first-class debut in the 1994-95 season for Western Australia in a tour match against England at the WACA where he hit 91 and 77. In 1998 he made his Test debut for his native Zimbabwe, against Sri Lanka in Kandy, and collected 19 appearances during which he averaged 42.84

After quitting international cricket due to family reasons he moved back to Australia and then secured what would become a long-term association with Sussex before spending the last two English seasons with Glamorgan where he has been a senior figure in a relatively young batting order.

His most recent appearance for the county came in August 20 when he made 59 in a Royal London Cup match against Sussex. He struggled in the Championship, scoring 347 at 23.13.

Gareth Rees was the second Glamorgan player to confirm retirement on Friday as he opted to return to study with a view to moving into the business world. Rees, 29, will finish with 5910 first-class runs at 32.65.

It was a day of mass departures for the county who also announced that pace bowler Michael Reed along with batsmen Stewart Walters and Tom Lancefield will not be offered new contracts. Reed had reached as far as the England Performance Programme but has been struck down by injuries this season and has not made an appearance.

Hugh Morris, the Glamorgan chief executive, said: "This is always a difficult time of the season with decisions made regarding which players will remain in the squad and indeed some players deciding their own futures.

"Murray, Gareth and Stewart have been leaders on and off the field and part of the first -team squad throughout their time at Glamorgan, making valuable commitments to the Glamorgan cause.

"Mike has struggled with injury this year and has chosen to move on, whilst Tom although pushing for a place in the first-team throughout the summer has found opportunities limited."

However, it has not all be about players departing. Will Owen, along with youngsters Kieran Bull, Jeremy Lawlor, Jack Murphy, Aneurin Donald, Dewi Penrhyn-Jones and Andrew Salter have all signed new contracts. Bull, an 19-year-old offspinner, has impressed after being a chance late in the season with six wickets in two Championship matches.