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Arthritis forces Gavin Larsen to retire

Injuries and worsening arthritis in his right foot have robbed veteran New Zealand bowler Gavin Larsen of his planned final cricket season in front of the home fans.

Larsen, 37, has retired immediately because of the health problems rather than his previously planned retirement at the end of the next southern season, New Zealand Cricket said in a statement.

''One thing I could never live with would be lowering my personal standards through playing for the sake of playing,'' Larsen said in the statement.

''My instinct is that I would be unable to attain the standards I expect of myself this coming season.''

Larsen is the longest serving player in the New Zealand team, having played 121 one-day internationals, his specialist arena, and eight Tests.

In his nine years of one-dayers, ''The Postman'' -- for his always accurate deliveries -- collected 113 wickets at an average of 35.38 runs, for an economy rate of 3.76.

''He has been our most consistent performer in the one-day game for many years, always giving 100 per cent and proving to be New Zealand's most economical one-day bowler of the past decade,'' said New Zealand Cricket general manager Tim Murdoch.

New Zealand Cricket said it had planned to call up Larsen to join the New Zealand tour of India for a one-day series following the current Test series.

UNI