Gavin Hamilton retires from county cricket

Gavin Hamilton, the Durham all-rounder, has announced he will retire from county cricket at the end of this season. Hamilton spent a decade with Yorkshire, before joining Durham in 2004 - but he failed to hold down a regular place in the first XI. He has spent part of the summer on loan with the Scottish Saltires, and plans to play for Scotland next summer.

Hamilton, 31, came to prominence in the 1999 World Cup while playing for Scotland; he was subsequently selected for England's tour to South Africa, and made his Test debut in Johannesburg. But it wasn't a memorable experience, as he was dismissed for nought in both innings.

Durham's coach Martyn Moxon paid tribute to Hamilton in a statement released on Thursday: "Gavin has been an excellent member of our squad for the last two seasons and, although he has only played a handful of first XI games, his contribution both on and off the field has been extremely valuable."