Canning retires following disciplinary breach

Tama Canning, the allrounder who has played four ODIs for New Zealand, has announced his retirement at the age of 29, following a disciplinary breach. He renounced his contract with Auckland, his state side, after questions were raised about his conduct and commitment during their State Championship match against Northern Districts at Eden Park last week.

Canning, the overnight batsman, reported late on the final day with a hangover, showing up barely 20 minutes before the first ball was to be bowled. Though he picked up seven wickets, he failed miserably with the bat, with scores of 0 and 1, as his side crumbled to a 318-run defeat. His actions irked the team management and his team-mates.

This was his second breach following an incident in an Auckland nightclub last year, and though he claimed no recollection of the offence, he was fined by the Players' Association. Andrew Eade, Auckland Cricket chief executive, told the Herald on Sunday that they were yet to discuss at that stage whether his contract would be cancelled.

"There was an incident at the last game," Eade said. "We held a hearing following the incident, which is what we do in situations like that, and it hadn't reached the stage of deciding what we were going to do as a flow-on from the incident. Tama himself decided, because he's had a bit of a history of difficulties with commitments I guess, that it was time for him to retire."

Heath Mills, the Players' Association manager, added that Canning had struggled to meet his obligations as a professional cricketer, thereby prompting him to retire and look for a career outside cricket. Canning has moved back to Perth, his former base.

Canning was named the Auckland Player of the Year in 2003 after a good season in which he took 46 wickets in the State Championship at an average of 21.97, breaking John Bracewell's haul of 43 in 1986-87. He also scored 451 runs, averaging 37.58.