Glamorgan's Matthew Maynard will retire at the end of the forthcoming season. The 39-year-old, who captained the Welsh county to the 1997 championship, said his body can no longer keep up with the fitness demands of the game.
"I've fallen out of love with the training that goes with the playing," said Maynard, who is set to embark on his 21st season with Glamorgan.
"You've got to keep certain standards. I've worked hard on fitness over the years, but time has run its course."
Maynard has scored nearly 25,000 first-class runs, and last season broke Glamorgan's record for first-class centuries.
He won four England Test caps and played in 14 one-day internationals.
Late last year, he was appointed assistant coach of England's limited overs side last year, and he will retain that role this coming summer.
Maynard said: "I'll be missing games for Glamorgan this season - the entire 20-20 competition, a couple of Championship matches and a totesport League game - because I'll be away for five weeks with England.
"It's not a huge amount in terms of real game time but for once I've got to look beyond playing cricket and look to the future.
"Hopefully that will be within the coaching element of the game as that is my passion now."
Maynard made his Glamorgan debut in 1985, announcing his arrival in typically aggressive style with a hundred on his debut against Yorkshire at Swansea.
He reached the landmark by striking spinner Phil Carrick for three successive sixes.
His coaching baptism came in Zimbabwe and South Africa when England suffered mixed fortunes.
England brushed aside a poor Zimbabwe outfit weakened by political infighting before losing to South African hosts stung by Test series defeat.
Apart from his Glamorgan and England commitments this summer, he has the added responsibility of a testimonial year.
MMIX
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