Weekes retires from first-class cricket

Paul Weekes, Middlesex's allrounder, is to retire at the end of their match against Kent at Canterbury. In May this year, he made it clear of his intention to move - making himself available for a possible loan - but no counties were forthcoming.

"Paul has been an exceptional cricketer for the club," Middlesex's chief executive, Vinny Codrington, told BBC Sport. "His consistently excellent performances over the past two decades have made him a firm favourite of all those who love Middlesex cricket."

Weekes made his debut against the touring New Zealanders in 1990, has scored 11,000 first-class runs and taken 300 wickets. A mainstay of Middlesex's lineup throughout the 1990s, his crab-like stance at the crease belies a left-hander who, while not the most elegant, scored quickly and enterprisingly. In 1996, against Somerset at Uxbridge, he became one of a select band of Middlesex players to have scored hundreds in both innings of a match (171* and 160). And, against Yorkshire last month, he struck his 20th first-class century.

Playing in a strong Middlesex team during the 1990s - among the likes of Angus Fraser, Phil Tufnell, John Emburey and Mike Gatting - he couldn't quite make the step-up to international honours, in spite touring India with England A in the mid-1990s. He also took two fine catches at short-leg, as substitute for England against the West Indies at Lord's in 1995.