Rhodes bows out of Gloucestershire

After playing a pivotal role in Gloucestershire's win at Lord's in the final of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy, Jonty Rhodes will not be back for another season with the club and has announced his retirement from first-class cricket.

Rhodes, 34, was at his flamboyant best in the field at Lord's, diving this way and that at backward point as he saved countless runs. He was instrumental in the fall of the first Worcestershire wicket when a fine stop and throw to the bowler's end ran out Vikram Solanki just as the batsman was threatening to play a substantial innings. Once he had gone, the other wickets fell quickly and it was then left to Rhodes to hit the winning run.

John Bracewell, Gloucestershire's director of cricket who is leaving himself at the end of the season, said: "It's sad for cricket that Jonty will not be continuing with the club. Having said that, we knew that the odds on him coming back for another year were probably against us. He's lived up to every expectation we had both on the field as well as in and around the dressing-room. He's been a marvellous ambassador for cricket and his standing with the coaches and team puts him with the best of our overseas players."