Kent wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Rouse retires from cricket

Rouse made 72 appearances for Kent's senior side across all formats, scoring 1,648 runs at 27.01 as well as taking 130 catches

Adam Rouse has announced his retirement from the game at the age of 28.

The Zimbabwe-born wicketkeeper-batsman leaves the game having seen the last four years of his career with the Canterbury club.

Rouse made his first-class debut for Hampshire before making a move to Gloucestershire and then Kent in 2016.

He made 72 appearances for Kent's senior side across all formats, scoring 1,648 runs at 27.01 as well as taking 130 catches.

On his retirement, Rouse said: “I’ve decided to bring a close to my rollercoaster of a career. I have been reflecting with my friends and family and I feel I’m at a stage of my life where I’m ready for a new challenge away from the sport.

“It is never an easy decision but I am incredibly proud to have played for this fantastic team. I hope that I can leave this great club with everyone knowing I gave 110% every time I wore the Kent horse on my chest.

“I’ve had the honour of captaining Kent, being part of a promotion winning season and contributing towards getting to a Lord’s final!”

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Upon looking to the future Rouse said: “I’ve got plans in the pipeline that I’m really excited about and I think the best thing for my future is to dive right into that and hopefully set my next chapter up.

“I will be volunteering my services for the remainder of the season and have spoken to Paul (Downton) and the coaches about assisting where needed.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Kent, I’ve loved my time here and I will genuinely miss it. I’ve made friends and memories for life and I’ll always look back with immense fondness.

“I wish the club all the very best for the future and I look forward to cheering the team on from a different seat.”

Kent’s head coach, Matt Walker, said: “It’s a sad day for me to see Adam leaving the Club.

“He has been such a wonderful member of our squad since he joined us five years ago and his contribution both on and off the field has been fantastic.

“He is an extremely popular lad amongst the squad and one of the most outstanding professionals I’ve had the pleasure of working with. He’s the epitome of the type of person we want at Kent Cricket.

“He can be extremely proud of what he’s brought to the Club and I know that he’ll succeed in whatever the next stage of his life happens to be.

“I want to thank him for all he has done here and I wish him and his wife Pipa all the very best for the future.”

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