Jeremy Bray quits international cricket

Ireland batsman Jeremy Bray has announced his retirement from international cricket. The left-hand opener, who played 15 ODIs and two Twenty20s for his country, was part of the squad for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

"I'm not getting any younger, and it's hard to get up to the levels of fitness now required for international cricket," the 36-year-old Bray said. "The team has an incredibly demanding schedule over the next few years, and I couldn't commit myself fully to that programme.

"I have had some wonderful memories and will always be grateul to Ireland for giving me the opportunity. I'd like to thank Adi Birrell for the faith he showed in me, and Phil Simmons for giving me the chance to make a comeback after being out of the side for two years.

"The Irish fans are superb, and I'll never forget the atmosphere of the World Cup in the West Indies."

The Australian-born Bray represented New South Wales and Australia Under-19s before moving to Ireland. He held the record for the highest first-class score by an Ireland batsman with his 190 against UAE in the 2005 Intercontinental Cup until Eoin Morgan surpassed that with his double-century against the same opponents two years later. Bray scored 401 runs in ODIs at an average of 28.64, including two centuries. One of those was his unbeaten 115 in a tied match against Zimbabwe in the World Cup.

He was the Man of the Match in the 2007 Intercontinental Cup final against Canada, scoring 146 in an opening stand of 202 with William Porterfield as Ireland won by an innings. He was also involved in the second-highest partnership in Irish cricket history, when he added 304 with Niall O'Brien in 2005 against the UAE.