Andrew Penn announces retirement

Andrew Penn has announced his retirement from first-class cricket after a season of injury and frustration. A calf strain at Christmas ruled him out of the Wellington side, and he was unable to regain his place, watching from the boundary as they secured the State Championship last weekend.

"I can't complain when they go and win the Championship but it was still hard not to be a part of it when I thought I was probably good enough," he told reporters. "The season's been a bit of a nightmare. I was taking wickets well in the first three Championship games only to break down against Auckland."

Penn was an aggressive fast-medium outswing bowler who thrived at domestic level as his career figures show. But although he was a model of consistency, he made only five one-day appearances for New Zealand and was unable to break into the Test side. He won state titles with Wellington and Central Disctricts.

Penn, who is a lawyer, made his decision when he joined a new practice and gave them an undertaking that he would not play representative cricket again.