Gareth Hopkins retires from cricket

Gareth Hopkins, the former New Zealand wicketkeeper, has retired from cricket. The 37-year-old, played four Tests, 25 ODIs and 10 Twenty20 internationals.

In domestic cricket, Hopkins played for Northern Districts, Canterbury, Otago and moved to Auckland in the 2007-08 season, where he finished his career. He scored 7550 runs in 158 first-class matches, including 17 centuries and 34 half-centuries, and claimed 435 catches and 26 stumpings. He also played 203 List A matches in which he hit 4013 runs at 27.11. He aggregated 1279 runs in 83 matches in T20s.

A highlight of his tenure as captain came when he led Auckland to successive HRV Cup titles in 2011 and 2012.

Hopkins told the New Zealand Herald that the game had changed since he started his career in 1996. "Now there's strength, mental, nutrition, technical and video analysis - so many tools you can use," Hopkins said. "Sometimes I think we get a little confused, but each of them can aid you if you use them correctly."

Hopkins was the second veteran of New Zealand domestic cricket to announce his retirement this season, with Shanan Stewart also calling time on his career.