Cricket: Mills takes the gloves off for the last time

By Terry Maddaford

Hampered by a back injury which has effected his mobility and his motivation, Auckland wicketkeeper Jason Mills yesterday announced his retirement from representative cricket.

He will not play in the practice match against New Zealand starting today at Eden Park.

Regarded by many as technically the best wicketkeeper in the country, 29-year-old Mills said: "It is unrealistic now for me to play for New Zealand. I feel it is time to move on and at the same time give Auckland the chance to blood a successor in the remaining rounds of the Shell Trophy."

In a first-class career stretching back to the 1991-92 season, Mills played 27 Shell Trophy matches. He made more than 80 dismissals and had a top score of 73 not out.

With Mills ruling himself out of today's game starting on the outer oval at 10.30am, young Suburbs New Lynn keeper Reece Young has been given the nod and could also find himself included in the side for the Trophy game against Canterbury starting in Rangiora on Saturday.

Chris Drum, Kerry Walmsley and Mark Haslam have minor injuries and will be restricted to just one spell each as New Zealand plan to bat for the three two-hour sessions planned for today.

Auckland: Blair Pocock, Drum, Walmsley, Brooke Walker, Haslam, Lou Vincent, Ian Billcliff, Sanjeeva Silva, Stephen Lynch, Richard Jones, Tane Topia, Dean Potter, Richard King.