England star Newton announces retirement

Laura Newton, England's vice-captain, has announced her retirement. She was quick to rule out applying for the England coaching role, despite her Level 3 coaching qualifications, telling Cricinfo that, understandably, she did not want to be pigeonholed in cricket.

She is halfway through her Masters in biomechanics, and has taken an interest in working in that field, but concentrating on gymnastics and athletics, once she graduates in 2008.

Newton, who is 29, alluded to the trials of being an amateur player in an era where there are more and more international matches. She said: "The demands of being an England cricketer require a sacrifice I am no longer able to undertake from this point onwards."

Her retirement means that, as well as studying, she can spend more time with her two children, George, 8, and Harry, 5. But in relinquishing her England role, she will also give up her ECB funding, and so she plans to undertake clerical temping while she completes her studies.

From England's perspective, they now have the task of appointing a new vice-captain alongside a new England coach. Arran Brindle, who would be her natural successor, is no longer in the frame, having announced a break from the game. Claire Taylor may make a useful deputy - despite being 31 she has her sights firmly on the 2009 World Cup - but otherwise the role is likely to go to one of the younger players, who could benefit in learning from the current captain, Charlotte Edwards.

Newton's retirement before the age of 30 brings to mind Clare Connor quitting at the same age - Connor's decision was also one borne of the demands of representing the country. Both were tirelessly dedicated to the cause and, like Connor, Newton gave her all. Her experience will be hard to replace.

Newton, who played for England for a decade, started off as a fast-bowling middle-order batsman, but - as a natural sportswoman - she adapted her game to become an offspinning opening batsman. In all of her roles she was an integral part of England's recent success, including winning the Ashes.

She made her ODI debut against South Africa in 1997 and two years later she made her Test debut in the series against India. Her one-day top score of 79 belies her talent - but then her role was as a flamboyant batsman, with licence to strike. She hit nine half-centuries in total, and while she admits that she would have liked a one-day century "it's not the be-all and end-all."

She does have a Test century to her name, 103 against New Zealand in 2004. She was also awarded the NatWest Player of the Series in 2003 for her consecutive scores of 68 and 77 not out.

In the most recent quadrangular series in India in February she was the pick of England's bowlers, but again her best-ever return of 2 for 17 in one-dayers and 3 for 10 in Tests is frustratingly short of her potential. Still, statistics aren't everything, and her enthusiasm, professionalism and tireless hard work - not to mention her expert fielding - contributed exceptionally to the team, and as yet another example to the younger players, alongside Connor, Edwards and Taylor to name a few.

Naturally, she will miss her team-mates. "Playing cricket for England has given me wonderful experiences, opportunities and memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life. I'll be supporting the team avidly this summer from the sidelines as they take on New Zealand."

Her best memory is taking a match-winning catch in the Stratford Test as England's women won the Ashes in 2005 for the first time in 42 years. "Lottie [Charlotte Edwards] nearly knocked me and my cap for six!" she remembers.

Gill McConway, the executive director for women's cricket, said: "Laura has been a fantastic ambassador. I hope she returns to cricket some time in the future."

Edwards, Newton's opening partner for so many matches, said: "Laura will be a huge loss to the team as she offered a huge amount of experience and all-round talent. She sacrificed a great deal to play international cricket."

Now, 73 ODIs later, there are few goals left unfulfilled. "When you get to late-60s caps, you think maybe I'll go for a hundred," said Newton, "but I want a life." And, after a decade working hard for England, nobody can blame her.