Reece Young quits first-class cricket

Reece Young, the wicketkeeper who played five Tests for New Zealand, has announced his retirement from first-class cricket. Young, 33, said he quit to spend more time with his family and focus on a career outside of cricket.

Young made his Test debut against Pakistan in Hamilton in 2011 and played the last of his five Tests against Australia in Hobart in 2011-12. He scored 169 runs with a highest score of 57 and took eight catches. He had earlier toured Sri Lanka in 2009 and kept wicket in place of Brendon McCullum in the second innings of the first Test in Galle.

Young made his first-class debut for Auckland in 1998-99 and he is the most capped Auckland player with 97 first-class games and the team record holder with 258 dismissals. He also played two seasons for Canterbury, in 2010-11 and 2011-12 before returning to Auckland for his final season. In 126 first-class games, Young has scored 4633 runs with eight centuries and taken 321 catches. In 84 List A games, he has scored 1523 runs with one century and taken 84 catches.

"I am pleased to announce my retirement from first-class cricket," Young said. "I am proud of what I have achieved and will take away many great memories. However, I feel the time is right to move onto new challenges and prioritise my family and a post-cricket career. It's been a privilege to have made a career in cricket for so long.

"I have been fortunate enough to represent my country and play in winning Test sides, win domestic titles with Auckland and Canterbury and have a lot of fun along the way."

Young has been involved in Triumph & Disaster, a men's grooming line founded by the former New Zealand fast bowler Dion Nash.

"The decision to finish my cricket career has come from a desire to focus on my family and career opportunities outside of cricket. I have been fortunate to gain some experience in recent months with Triumph & Disaster, a fast-growing company I'm excited to be involved with.

"I have also been fortunate to work over the past four to five years with the Players Association's careers programme, building my experiences outside of cricket and learning business skills. This has helped me gain skills and experience and given me confidence to move away from cricket and into a post-cricket career."