Former NZ stumper Hopkins calls it a day

WELLINGTON: Former New Zealand wicket keeper Gareth Hopkins has announced his retirement from competitive cricket after a career spanning over 17 years.

The 37-year-old Hopkins played four Tests, 25 one-dayers and 10 Twenty20 internationals with his last Test and ODI appearance coming against India back in 2010.

In domestic cricket, Hopkins played for Northern Districts, Canterbury, Otago before moving to Auckland in the 2007-08 season.

The veteran scored 7550 runs in 158 first-class matches, including 17 centuries and 34 half-centuries. He also pouched 435 catches and effected 26 stumpings.

Hopkins also played 203 List A matches in which he hit 4013 runs at 27.11. He had an aggregate of 1279 runs in 83 matches in T20s.

A highlight of his tenure as captain came when he led Auckland to successive HRV Cup titles in 2011 and 2012.

Hopkins believes the game has drastically changed since he made his debut against England in June 2008 at Nottingham.

“Now there’s strength, mental, nutrition, technical and video analysis - so many tools you can use. Sometimes I think we get a little confused, but each of them can aid you if you use them correctly,” said Hopkins who was part of the team that won Nat West series final in England in 2004.