Hampshire seamer Chris Wood to focus on limited-overs cricket after confirming red-ball retirement

The 29-year-old has not played a first-class match since May 2018 and will put all his efforts in the white-ball formats from this season

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Chris Wood has retired from red-ball cricket to focus on limited-overs formats at Hampshire from the 2020 season.

The 29-year-old has not played a first-class match since May 2018 having become a key cog in Hants' white-ball team.

Wood became the Ageas Bowl club's highest-ever T20 wicket-taker last season with 131 scalps in 121 matches and was part of the side which won the Blast in 2012.

He has 106 wickets in List A cricket at an average of 28.22 and has twice helped the club win the One-Day Cup.

The Basingstoke-born left-armer came through the Hampshire academy and hopes the decision will have a positive impact on his career.

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“I’ve been desperate to play red-ball cricket, but in recent years every time I get up and running my body seems to hold me back, and this has been the case since having two knee operations over the last few seasons," he said.

"When I play red-ball cricket, I feel I’m good enough to contribute to the team but my body just hasn’t allowed me to bowl 30 to 40 overs each week and in consecutive games, so I’ve been mulling it over for some time and now feels like the right time to finally make this decision. 

“Concentrating solely on white-ball cricket and trying to get the most of my career, playing the formats that I’m more comfortable with and have had more success in, feels like it makes sense.

"I’m looking forward to being able to focus all my training overs on improving my skills as a white-ball bowler, which will hopefully help me to continue contributing to the club’s limited-overs success in the years to come.”