Adrian Dale retires

Adrian Dale, Glamorgan's long-serving allrounder, is to retire from first-class cricket at the end of the 2004 season.

Dale, 35, made his Glamorgan debut in 1989 and was a key member of the side which won the County Championship in 1997 and the one-day National League in 1993 and 2002. He has played more than 250 first-class matches, scoring 12,586 runs at 33.29, with 23 centuries - the highest 214 not out against Middlesex at Cardiff in 1993.

Glamorgan had offered him only a one-day contract for 2005, but Dale felt that he wanted to be fully involved with the Championship team too, and decided to retire instead. He explained: "I understand the difficulty the Club has been facing in deciding whether to offer me a full contract for 2005, principally because of the emergence of a clutch of high-quality young players. It would have been difficult for me to accept any offer of a one-day contract, not just in salary terms but also because I don't think I would be able to make the same commitment without being available to play in every match."

He went on: "I would like to thank everyone at the club - particularly all of the players I have played alongside - for their help, support, advice and friendship. I'll miss the camaraderie and the buzz, but I'm still hoping to be leaving Glamorgan on a high note with a fourth winners' medal."

And finally Dale outlined his future: "In the circumstances, and because it has always been my intention to move to New Zealand at the end of my playing career, the sensible decision for me is to call it a day - and I am now looking forward to the next chapter in my life."

Mike Fatkin, Glamorgan's chief executive, paid tribute: "Adrian has been a valuable and very popular member of the Glamorgan squad for the past 15 years, and we would all like publicly to thank him for his outstanding contribution throughout that time, not just on the field, but off it, where he has been a model professional. He has been one of our most consistent and reliable players over the years and although his opportunities this summer have been more limited, when he has played it has always been with the same high level of enthusiasm and commitment. We wish him and his family every happiness in New Zealand in the future."