Robbie Hart retires

Robbie Hart, the former New Zealand wicketkeeper, has announced his retirement from cricket, so that he could concentrate on his career outside the game. Hart, 29, represented New Zealand in 11 Tests, playing both his first and last matches against Pakistan.

His older brother, Matthew, also represented the national team, as a left-arm spinner. Robbie got his chance relatively late, after Adam Parore quit at the end of the series against England in 2001-02. His time behind the stumps produced 29 catches and a stumping, and he also made 260 runs, including a vital 57 against West Indies that played a big part in New Zealand's first series victory in the Caribbean.

He didn't cover himself with glory on tours of Sri Lanka and India in 2003, on pitches where the ball often turned sharply, and played what turned out to be his final Test against Pakistan over the holiday season last year. Hart was also a regular for Northern Districts, playing for 12 seasons.