Somerset County Cricket Club announce that Mark Lathwell will not be taking up the last two years of a three-year contract which ends in September 2003.

Somerset Chief Executive Peter Anderson said: "The face and demands of playing first class cricket is rapidly changing in terms of physical preparation, modern analytical coaching and sizes of playing staff which need to reduce to allow new talent to come through. Mark and the Club felt that his desire to play first class cricket had diminished in the face of all these factors and that it was better for him to seek a career outside professional cricket rather than complete his contract term."

The Club places on record its thanks to him for his service and his memorable strokeplay during his career.

Mark Lathwell said: "The Club is overstaffed and I could not see a way forward of playing regular first team cricket, which I found to be an increasing strain to play in anyway. Rather than sit out my contract it seemed to make sense to start thinking ahead about a career outside professional cricket."

© Somerset CCC