New Zealand: Owens quits provincial cricket (24 November 1998)

24 November 1998

New Zealand: Owens quits provincial cricket

The Christchurch Press

Broad-shouldered Canterbury pace bowler Michael Owens has retired from cricket at provincial level.

Owens, 29 earlier this month, said a combination of work and family commitments had led to his decision after initially being available this season.

"It's just getting harder to juggle the various things around and do justice to them all," said Owens yesterday.

"It's very difficult these days for a player to hold down a full-time working job and play cricket as well. For most of the Canterbury team cricket is their summer job,"said Owens, a travel consultant.

Owens feels he does not leave the province in the lurch with a number of promising pace bowlers, such as Shane Bond, Ryan Burson, and Chris Martin, coming through and pressing for places.

Last season Owens showed at Shell Cup level he was playing as well as ever, making seven one-day appearances, including the Shell Cup final. He had career-best Cup figures of four for 26 against Wellington in a semi-final.

Shin splints, which have plagued his career in latter years, returned during the one-day series, ruling him out of any Shell Trophy matches.

Owens closes his one-day career for Canterbury, having played 48 games and taken 66 wickets, with a runs per over concession of 3.87.

At first-class level Owens played 19 games for Canterbury, bagging 51 wickets at 25.03.

Owens said his career highlights included the first of Canterbury's five Shell Cup successes in the 1990s against Wellington in the memorable high-scoring final at Lancaster Park.

Owens also played eight tests for New Zealand and made tours to Sri Lanka and England, including playing t Lords.

He took 17 wickets at 34.44. He was among those players who went in and out of favour with the national selectors at a time when there were continual changes to the Black Caps side.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)