O’Brien to Middlesex

Black Caps seamer Iain O’Brien, 33, has retired from international cricket and joined Middlesex as their overseas player for 2010 having spent last season at Leicestershire. The right-armer, who is also a prolific blogger, made his Test debut in 2005, taking a career-best 6-75 against West Indies in Napier in December 2008. O’Brien has said that “being on the road for 11 months of the year” was something he could no longer cope with. “I’ve placed cricket in front of everything else, but it’s now time to put Rosie first and start a family. Since we married two and a half years ago, we’ve only spent nine months together,” he explained. “I intend to keep playing the game I love, and have an opportunity to finish my career with Middlesex which is very exciting.” Captain Daniel Vettori said: “I don’t think people quite realise how much the team will miss him in terms of his bowling and the intensity and energy and desire to want the ball at every stage.”