Caddick calls it one-day quits

Andrew Caddick has announced that he will play no more one-day international cricket. The 34-year-old Somerset opening bowler, who led England's attack in the World Cup, intends to concentrate on Test cricket this season.

Caddick's four-wicket haul against Australia enabled England to come closer than anyone else to beating the eventual champions, in a match that has turned out to be his swansong in limited-overs internationals.

"It's always difficult to make a decision like this, especially when you've had a long career," Caddick said today. "I'm still involved in the Test side - but as far as one-day cricket is concerned it's time to call it a day.

"Playing for England in the World Cup in South Africa was a high point in my career, but I will not be around for the next one and my stepping down will create an opportunity for a younger bowler to cement his place in the one-day side.

"I've had some great moments. Coming through to beat Pakistan at Cape Town was probably a highlight - but unfortunately the game against Australia didn't go our way. But that's one-day cricket - nothing is decided until the final ball is bowled."

Caddick has played in 54 one-day internationals in a career spanning almost exactly ten years. He ended with 69 wickets and an economy rate of a shade over four runs an over. His retirement will certainly be welcomed at Taunton, as Somerset's chief executive Peter Anderson has already made clear.

"Somerset will back any decision Andy makes," Anderson said today. "He has been a fantastic cricketer for England and still has a lot to offer in Test Match cricket. Somerset will obviously benefit from his decision and I am sure that Andy would wish to add to his already impressive figures for Somerset before he retires from the game fully."

Caddick also offered his thoughts on the likely candidates to fill another vacancy in England's one-day set-up.

"There are players in the form of Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick - and there's even talk of Adam Hollioake coming in. All three are capable of taking on the captaincy. I'm glad Nasser hasn't thrown away the Test captaincy, because I think he's one of the best to take on the job for England."

Caddick's retirement comes at the end of an exhausting winter with England, whose World Cup campaign followed their defeat in the Ashes series in Australia.

"It's been solid for the last 12 months, he said. "International teams are playing a lot more cricket, and so winters will be a lot longer for the players. I've done nothing for three weeks - which is nice - but I start training again on Monday, so it's back into the old grind and slogging away."

England will now go into their next one-day international against Pakistan in mid-June with a different lead fast bowler as well as a new captain.