Harris retires as Benning leaves Leics

AJ Harris has taken 451 wickets in a first-class career that stretches back to 1993 and includes a Championship medal

Leicestershire seamer AJ Harris has announced his retirement from first-class cricket at the end of the season, when James Benning will also leave the county.

Harris, 37, spent two years at Grace Road following nine seasons with Nottinghamshire. He previously played for Derbyshire.

He is likely to hang up his boots having taken 451 wickets at an average of 32.66 in a 147-match first-class career that began in 1993 and included a tour of Australia with England A in 1996-97 and a County Championship winners’ medal with Notts in 2005.

Harris was Leicestershire’s leading wicket-taker in the championship last year with 67 victims, but has spent the majority of the current campaign in the second XI.

“It is with great sadness that I have decided to retire from first-class cricket at the end of the 2010 season with Leicestershire,” he said.

“I have been fortunate enough to have played for 18 seasons, during which time I have played with and against some very special players and some of the finest cricketers to have ever graced our beautiful game.

“I am honoured to be able to call many of them a friend and it will be strange not to be sharing a changing room with them again.

“But all good things must come to an end and now is the right time to move on and I look forward to my future with great enthusiasm.

“I always received the most incredibly generous support from players, staff, the media and especially the members and supporters of all the teams I have played for and I cannot thank them all enough.

“I hope people will feel that I always gave 100% whenever I walked out for their team.”

Leicestershire, meanwhile, have not offered 27-year-old Benning an extension to his contract, which runs out at the end of this season.

The all-rounder, who joined the club on loan from Surrey last summer before securing a permanent deal, was sidelined for the first two months of the summer after a back operation.

Although he recovered to become a constant presence in the one-day side, he struggled to force his way into the championship team.

Senior coach Tim Boon said: “James is a talented cricketer who I'm sure will attract interest from other counties.

“He has made good contributions in one-day cricket with bat and ball. James had limited four-day opportunities but has the ability to change the course of the game through a positive approach.

“I personally wish James every success in the future.”