Cricket round-up: New Zealand paceman Chris Martin retires

The 38 year old calls time on a successful 71-Test career that earned him 233 wickets.

Chris Martin was a successful Test paceman but a typical tailender.
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Chris Martin, the New Zealand fast bowler, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

The 38 year old bows out having taken 233 wickets in the 71 Tests he played in – most recently against South Africa in January – 20 one-day internationals and six Twenty20 games for the Black Caps, though his most recent limited-overs involvement was in 2008.

"It feels like the right time to step down," he told www.blackcaps.co.nz. "I have loved every second and given it everything when playing for the Black Caps, but after 15 years of professional cricket, it's time to pursue a new challenge.

"I want to thank my family, all those at New Zealand Cricket, Auckland Cricket and Canterbury Cricket for their help and support over the years.

"Wearing the silver fern has brought me a huge amount of pride and will be something I'll always cherish. Representing the Black Caps has been a massive privilege, and playing with a group of guys who're so passionate about doing well for their country has been very special."

Martin's first, last and best Test performances came against South Africa.

He made his debut in Bloemfontein in 2000, took 11 for 180 in a 2004 victory over the Proteas in Auckland, and bowed out in Cape Town this year.

Martin took 233 Test wickets at an average of 33.81, putting him third on New Zealand's all-time list, but was perhaps as well known for his legendarily poor batting.

He scored 123 runs in 104 Test innings at an average of 2.36, reaching double figures on just one occasion – an unbeaten 12 against Bangladesh.

Martin's 36 ducks are second only to Courtney Walsh in five-day cricket, while his seven Test pairs are a record.

Kaneria life ban upheld

Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan leg-spinner, was urged to "come clean" after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) rejected his appeal against a life ban from cricket at a hearing in London on Tuesday.

He got him to agree to concede a certain number of runs in return for money while bowling in a county one-day match in 2009.

After Tuesday's verdict, ECB chairman Giles Clarke, called who was also chairman of the International Cricket Council's Pakistan task force from 2010-2012, called on Kaneria to make a clean breast of the matter.

"It is high time that Mr Kaneria came clean about his involvement in these corrupt activities and stopped misleading the Pakistan cricket fans and wider public with his empty protestations of innocence."

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