Gloucestershire batsman Will Tavare calls time on career: "I cannot thank everyone enough"

The 29-year-old, who has played in 54 first-class games and eight List A matches over the course of his career, is to step away from the game at the end of 2019

Will Tavare has announced he will retire from professional cricket at the end of the county season.

The 29-year-old, who has played in 54 first-class games and eight List A matches over the course of his career, is to step away from the game at the end of Gloucestershire's 2019 campaign.

Tavare, the nephew of former England international Chris, made 2,721 first-class runs at an average of 31.63, with six centuries.

"It is with a heavy heart that I’m writing to say I am hanging up my boots at the end of the summer," he said in a statement.

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"Making my debut for Gloucersterhire Youth at 11 never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would go on to play for the senior side at 16 and then make a hundred on my Championship debut, I certainly didn’t imagine bringing it up with a six.

"It was such an honour to captain a handful of games for such a historic club. I’ve been brought up with so many of my teammates and I will miss that changing room more than anything in the world.

"Cricket was never supposed to feel like a job and money was just a bonus, I just wanted to see what I could achieve. But now is the right time to move on to the next stage of my life, but until the end of the summer there is still a lot to play for and I will give my everything these last few months to end on a high with Gloucestershire."

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