Former Black Cap O'Brien calls time

Keep up to date with all that's new around the world - read match reports and more from every international played

Iain O'Brien's final competitive action was for Middlesex in the first half of the 2010 season. He played for Leicestershire the year before

Former New Zealand, Leicestershire and Middlesex seamer Iain O'Brien has retired due to a chronic back injury.

The 35-year-old, who last played competitively for Middlesex versus Sussex at Uxbridge in July 2010, had hoped to resurrect his career in Wellington but decided his injury was too serious.

O'Brien made his senior international debut against Australia at Christchurch in March 2005 but, after that series, did not play another Test for two seasons. He returned in November 2007 versus South Africa at Johannesburg and went on to play 22 Tests in all, taking 73 wickets at 33.27. He also featured in 10 one-day and four Twenty20 internationals.

Having been recommended to retire in 2003 after being told he had the back of a 60-year-old, O'Brien continued to play international cricket until retiring at the end of 2009.

He had played for Leicestershire the previous summer and joined Middlesex for the next, initially on a one-year contract but with the intention of extending that to three. He wanted to settle in the UK, but employment problems prevented him from becoming a British-qualified player.

O'Brien announced the news that his cricket "ride" was over in an emotional blog. "I've cried in changing rooms and hotels all around the world but how could I walk away," he wrote of his experiences in coping with the injury. "I've got more out of my body than I should have. Time's up."

He returned to Wellington and began rehabilitation with the hope of returning to international cricket. "I was doing everything I could to get back out for Wellington and if good enough, back into the New Zealand team," O'Brien said. "That was the dream. That was the motivation.

"I now know I'll never play for New Zealand again. The motivation to keep going has dwindled. So, on that note I know it's time to walk away."

Want to know what's happening at your county? Interested in how your rivals are faring? Look no further than ecb.co.uk's county-by-county page