The New Zealand allrounder hs quit international cricket. He had retired from test criclet in 2004 and now has decided to quit one-day cricket also- with just a little more than a year to go for the world cup.

http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/newz...ry/234075.html

He was only 50 runs short of joining Jacques Kallis and Sanath Jayasuriya as the only men to reach the 200-wicket, 5000-run.

To me, he was a great allrounder that many times single handedly won matches for his team- with his bowling and batting. He now wants to focus on his business. Good luck Cairns.

Good luck to him and thanks for the memories.

This might do the Kiwis some favours. Cairns hasn't exactly been on top form recently, but with his record its hard to keep him out of the team. Hopefully they can find and settle upon a new youngster to fill his position. I still think James Franklin could do a similar job, but the Kiwis do specialise in all-rounders. Jacob Oram seems the most obvious direct swap, but he doesn't have the guile that Cairns developed over the years. At least Franklin has time on his side to develop the variations to enhance his bowling.

Still, there aren't many box office draws like Chris Cairns. Shahid Afridi is his natural successor in big hitting, but who out there has mastered fast-medium variations like Cairns? The slower balls to dismiss Chris Read and Graham Thorpe will live long in the memory. I saw his retirement speech on TV here on the news and he seemed very emotional and upset about retiring, I still think he would have loved to go to a fifth successive World Cup, but he obviously saw that his skill was deteriorating and he was just keeping other players out the side.

Good luck to him anyway, I'm sure he's one of those players that people won't forget!

A very tough decision, but admirably taken at a time where he could have gone on and played more mediocre series in the future and been remembered as the guy "who went on too long". He has spotted that and decided to go now, which is a shame because of what an amazing cricketer he has been, but it is also a very responsible and credible thing that he has done.

All the best in your retirement Chris, a player who would get into any country (or county) side.

A slightly startling decision, but the man knows when its best to be made. The game will lose one of the cleanest strikers of the cricket ball. One of his memorable knocks was the hundred that he scored in the final of the 2000 ICC champions trophy final against India. New Zealand wouldnt have won the game if it weren't for his innings. Thanks Chris for all the huge sixes that you have hit and for the wonderful moments of brilliance you provided in the cricket field.

I think the time is right for him to have retired, he will be sorely missed by all who've seen him.

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James May

Was abit shocked meself, but all the best to him, was a great player

The fact that he was only 50 runs away from a mile stone makes it an even more brave decision. But I think its a wise decision. With a timely retirement, one always leaves behind happy memories. His retirement will create a vaccume in the team that can not be filled by one player.

NO!!! I am very sad to hear the news. I will miss his AGRESSIVE style and just plain old great. He could almost hit any body for SIX!!!! I will miss you Chris. I think Chris was forced to retire thanks to young talent being devolped.


CHRIS WE WILL MISS YOU

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CRICKET IS IN MY BLOOD

I'm surprised he went on this long. He was one of my favorites in the Kiwi side. I wish him all the best.