Essex County Cricket Club have praised Essex and England batsman Nasser Hussain who announced his retirement from Test and first-class cricket today.

Retiring - Nasser Hussain

Essex CCC Chief Executive David East paid tribute to 36-year-old Hussain who made 96 Test appearances for England and scored over 20000 first-class runs in 18 seasons of senior cricket.

He said: "We are all saddened by Nasser Hussain's decision to retire from professional cricket.

"Nasser has made an enormous contribution to Essex County Cricket Club and English cricket since making his debut in 1987. He follows in a line of distinguished England captains who have played for Essex in recent times.

"Nasser was a player of immense character and determination, which was clearly demonstrated by his innings at Lord's this week to win the first npower Test against New Zealand.

"This will now be the final innings by which he will be remembered and it was also fitting that he made a century in his last match for Essex (against Glamorgan earlier this month)."

Hussain captained England in 45 of his 96 Tests before stepping down in favour of Michael Vaughan in 2003. He scored 5,764 Test runs at an average of 37.18 during his England career.

East added: "We are sure that he will keep in touch with us at Essex and wish him every success in his future career."

More in tomorrow's Evening Echo and Evening Gazette newspapers.

Published Friday May 28, 2004