Pipe hangs up his gloves

Jamie Pipe, who is currently playing his last LV= County Championship game, is readying himself for a career change

Derbyshire wicketkeeper Jamie Pipe will retire as a player at the end of the season - before taking over as the club’s physio.

The 31-year-old, who is currently playing in the LV= County Championship clash with Essex at Derby, has called time on a playing career spanning 11 years.

The current match is his 82nd in first-class cricket, before which he had score 2,849 runs at an average of 29.07. He had also taken 222 catches and made 21 stumpings.

Pipe, who began his career at Worcestershire in 1998 and moved to Derbyshire in 2006, graduating from the University of Salford last year after studying part-time for a physiotherapy degree.

He will succeed David Beakley, who is leaving to take up a post with the Cricket Australia Academy at the end of the season.

Derbyshire head of cricket John Morris said: “It is great for us to have such an excellent team man remaining involved in the first team and the club at the end of his playing career.

“James has been training and working towards his physiotherapy degree for several years and this is a great opportunity for him to further his career in that area.”