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Tuesday, 14 March 2006 |
England women's cricket captain Clare Connor retires
England women's captain Clare Connor has announced that she is retiring
from international cricket after six years as leader of the team.
Clare Connor, who led the England team to a win at the Women's Ashes
last summer, said she had "agonised" over making this decision.
Clare Connor won an OBE in the New Year Honours after a career that encompassed 93 one-day internationals and 16 Test matches.
Clare Connor, 29, said: "I have fulfilled the dream I had as a young
girl. I have played for my country, led my country and we have won the
Ashes."
Clare Connor, who will be succeeded as captain by Charlotte Edwards,
will now focus on her teaching career at Brighton College but she will
not be lost to cricket completely because she has agreed to become the
first woman to play for the all-star charity side, Lashings, this
summer.
Clare Connor first made an appearance for England while still a
teenager in India in 1995 and was given the captaincy five years later
halfway through a disappointing tour of Australia and New Zealand when
the team lost every match.
However, Clare Connor's partnership with coach John Harmer and his successor Richard Bates brought improvements to her team.
Clare Connor had to miss the winter tour to India due to ankle
and elbow injuries but this gave her plenty of time to think about her
future career.
And she said: "I feel it is the right time for me to turn to pastures
new and for my successor to take the team, a wonderful team, to the
next level. "
New skipper Charlotte Edwards has made a vow to continue the
progress made under Clare Connor and hopes to achieve the ultimate goal
of winning the World Cup in 2009.
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