New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Parore announced today that he was quitting first-class cricket. His last match will be the third Test against England at Auckland, which starts on Saturday. A veteran of 77 Tests, Parore, 31, has been struggling to retain his enthusiasm for cricket. Retirement comes as he is on the verge of a major milestone: he needs four wicketkeeping dismissals to raise his career tally to 200. Overall, he has 199 dismissals already, including seven stumpings, but three of his catches came in the outfield in 1995-96 when Lee Germon was keeping wicket.

Sir Richard Hadlee, the chairman of New Zealand's selectors, said that despite some mixed form, Parore was still his panel's first choice, and he wanted to atone for his disappointing efforts so far in the series against England – his scores have been 0, 1 and 0.

Parore's international career has spanned close to 12 years since he made his test debut at the age of 19 in England in July 1990. He made his one-day debut in 1992, and has played in 179 ODIs, including the 1996 and 1999 World Cups. He holds NZ's one-day wicketkeeping record with 136 dismissals – 111 catches and 25 stumpings.

Parore's greatest asset has been his dual contribution as a specialist keeper and a more-than-useful batsman. He has batted in the top and middle order, although in recent years he has most often appeared at No. 7 or 8. He averaged 26.01 in Tests, and 25.68 in ODIs. He scored two Test centuries, the first against West Indies at Christchurch in 1994-95, and the other against Australia at Perth last December. Parore is widely acknowledged as one of New Zealand's most technically correct strokemakers.

He started playing for Auckland in February 1989, two weeks after his 18th birthday. But despite a 13-year career, international duties meant that he made only 30 first-class matches for them at provincial level.

Martin Snedden, the former Test medium-pacer who is now New Zealand Cricket's chief executive, paid tribute to Parore, saying he was a gifted player who had worked hard at his game and his fitness. "His athleticism and natural instinct as a gloveman have been outstanding features of his game," he said. "Adam has served his country and his team-mates over a 12-year period at the highest level. His contribution deserves the highest praise and recognition from New Zealand cricket fans."

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