New Zealand domestic cricket lost one of its longest-serving players of the modern generation today when Northern Districts stalwart Grant Bradburn decided to retire.

His announcement completed 16 years of first-class cricket for Northern Districts.

In the summer of 2000/01, Bradburn had reward for his unstinting service to his province when regaining his international status after a 10-year absence.

The tall, off-spinning batsman played 127 first-class matches and scored 4978 runs at 27.81 while taking 250 wickets at 32.69. He scored 2289 runs in limited overs matches and took 101 wickets with a career economy rate of 3.73.

He played seven Test matches and 11 One-Day Internationals and ended his career as the player with most matches for ND with 115 matches, 4614 runs at an average of 27.96.

Bradburn remarked: "My love of the game is still very much alive and I will certainly miss the enjoyable moments that playing the game brings, however, with a wife and two young boys to share time with and a sports retail store to run, it is time to close the book on my playing days."

ND chief executive John Turkington said today: "Grant's record stands for itself. He has been a loyal servant of Northern Districts cricket since 1985 and in that time his dedication to the Association has been exemplary. We know that Grant will maintain an interest in Northern Districts cricket and wish him all the best for the future."

© CricInfo