Maddy to retire at end of season

Warwickshire batsman Darren Maddy has announced he will end his 23-year career after the current domestic season.

Maddy's career began with Leicestershire in 1993 (having initially joined in 1991) where he stayed until 2006 - being part of their Championship-winning team of 1996 and 1998 - after which he moved to Edgbaston. He captained Warwickshire in 2007 and 2008, in the second of those seasons leading the county back to Division One of the County Championship.

In 2012 he secured his third Championship medal and also helped Warwickshire to the CB40 title in 2010.

He had a limited England career, playing three Tests, eight ODIs and four Twenty20s. His Test debut came against New Zealand, at The Oval, in 1999 and his two other appearances in the subsequent tour of South Africa.

The arrival of Twenty20 helped Maddy reinvent himself as one of the early trend-setters in the format - as a hard-hitting batsman, useful medium-pacer, and brilliant fielder - and he earned an England recall for the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007.

Maddy said: "It's been a tough decision to make over the last few weeks, but I realise that it's the right time for me to bow out and give more opportunities for many of Warwickshire's promising youngsters to come through and help build on the success of recent seasons.

"I've enjoyed a fantastic career, which I never thought would be possible when I signed my first professional contract with Leicestershire in 1991. However, it could not have happened without the great coaches, players, staff and fans who have supported me, as well as my family."

Dougie Brown, the director of cricket at Warwickshire, added: "Darren is one of the most widely respected players in the county game, having won every trophy possible and he has a great record on the biggest stage.

"He's a great role model for the younger players in the squad and is a very popular guy around the dressing room and with club members and supporters. He'll play an important role for the team in our upcoming Friends Life t20 campaign and we all wish him well in the next stage of his career."