Robin Smith contemplates retirement

While attention is on Alec Stewart's retirement from international cricket after the fifth npower Test against South Africa at The Oval, another former England stalwart is contemplating the prospect of retirement from first-class cricket. Robin Smith has suffered a hamstring tear that will keep him out of the Hampshire side for the next three weeks.

Smith, who turns 40 on September 13th, has scored nearly 19000 runs for Hampshire in first-class cricket since he made his debut in 1982. He played in 62 Tests, scoring 4236 runs at an average of 43.67, and 71 one-day internationals where he averaged just under 40.

"There is some talking to be done about my future," Smith said. "If one is realistic about me having played my last game then you could think along those lines."

He added that he still hoped to play in Hampshire's final National League match against Derbyshire on September 21.