Gavin Larsen hangs his boots

But the 37-year-old bowler, who has become one of the most reliable and popular New Zealand players, said his body could no longer stand up to the stresses and strains.

“It is a logical decision, and an inevitable one,” he said today. “The mind was extremely willing to carry on but the body wasn’t.

“My feet are the problem. I have arthritis in a couple of joints in my right foot and while I have had it for four years or so it has got progressively worse.”

Larsen captained the New Zealand team on its 1994 tour of Sharjah, and was vice-captain on its tour of England later that year.

He first represented New Zealand in March 1990 in a one-day international against India in Dunedin, New Zealand. He played 121 limited-overs matches, claiming 113 wickets at an average of 35.38.

He went to the last three World Cups, and in this year’s tournament in England was his team’s most economical bowler, giving away just 3.46 runs an over.

Larsen played eight Tests between 1994 and 1996, taking 24 wickets at an average of 28.70.