Bowler is in his 19th season of first-class cricket

Somerset batsman Peter Bowler, the oldest player on the county circuit, will retire at the end of the season.

The 41-year-old is presently enjoying a 19th season at first-class level with his fourth club.

Chief executive Peter Anderson said: "He wishes to play for the remainder of the season, but accepts it is a matter of form and whether he is picked.

"The club wishes to mark the retirement of a wonderful player in a suitable manner at the end of the season."

Somerset's current Championship match against Glamorgan is Bowler's 314th first-class appearance.

He has scored in excess of 19,000 runs at an average of 40, with 45 hundreds and 98 half-centuries.

Anderson added: "Peter has had a wonderful professional cricketing career.

"His batting average exceeds 40, the hallmark of a really good player and some may say he was unlucky not to get an international cap."

Bowler's previous first-class teams include Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Australian state side Tasmania.