Tuffers calls it a day

Middlesex and England's left-arm spinner, Philip Tufnell, has retired from first-class cricket with immediate effect.

A Middlesex CCC statement read, "It is with huge disappointment that Middlesex have today, following a meeting, received a letter from Phil Tufnell stating that he has decided to retire from the First-Class game.

He feels that the time is right to further his career outside of First Class cricket. We had been looking forward to Phil playing cricket for us this season and his retirement is a great loss to the Club."

Tufnell said, "I would like to thank Middlesex for their support over the past 18 years, which has been extremely enjoyable and I wish the club and more importantly, the team, all the success for the forthcoming season and beyond."

It is rumoured that Tufnell, who had not been offered a contract extension past the end of the 2003 season, did not want to play on with the pressure of "selling himself" to the club for a contract in 2004.

Bob Gale, president of Middlesex, said, "I was the Chairman of Cricket for many years during Phil's career. He is a great bowler and has been a wonderful servant of Middlesex County Cricket Club and his retirement will leave a sizable gap in our playing staff. Phil is a unique talent and we are very sorry that he has decided to retire to pursue other interests. We wish him every success. He will always be welcome at Middlesex".

Tufnell, 36, has played 316 first class matches, taking 1,057 wickets at 29.35 with best figures of 8/29. He has also scored 2,066 runs at 9.69 with a career best of 69*, his only fifty. He has only played 93 List A matches, taking 103 wickets at 32.30, and scoring 125 runs at 8.92.

He played 42 tests for England, taking 121 wickets at 37.68 with a best of 7/47, and scoring 153 runs at 5.10. Surprisingly, he played 20 ODIs taking 19 wickets at 36.78 and scoring just 15 runs - at 15.00, with 9 not outs.

Posted by Neil