Stead announces retirement

Gary Stead, the former New Zealand and Canterbury batsman, has announced his retirement from the game.

"I am very content in all that I have achieved during my career but it is now time to focus on the next phase of my life - my family and my job," Stead, 34, told Sporting Life. "I have loved every minute and I leave the game with no regrets."

A top-order batsman, Stead played five Tests for New Zealand in 1999 and scored two impressive half-centuries - against South Africa and India - at an average of 34.75. He was called to the national side for a series against South Africa after the loss of Stephen Fleming, Craig McMillan, Matthew Bell and Chris Cairns through injury and illness and made his Test debut in the Second Test at Christchurch.

His last Test was against West Indies at the Basin Reserve in Wellington following which he was dropped from the national side. He made his provincial debut 12 years ago and scored 4,410 for Canterbury in 101 first-class games. He led Canterbury for five seasons from 1998-99 in a period when they were struggling.

Stead said he would stay involved in cricket as a coach at New Zealand Cricket's High Performance Centre in Lincoln.