Stuart Williams to Retire

Wed, Jan 19, '05

Former West Indies opening batsman Stuart Williams says he will bow out of the regional game at the end of the 2005 Carib Beer Series, if not before.

He joins his Leewards team-mate Ridley Jacobs, in announcing his intention to quit this season, CMC Sports reported.

"I am no longer motivated to play at the regional level," the 35-year-old Williams told the news agency. Williams, who made his debut for the Leewards in 1989, and is now in his 16th season, won the Man-of-the-Match award in the drawn second round fixture between the Leewards and Guyana that ended Monday at his home ground, Grove Park.

He stroked 142, a record 19th regional hundred - his 25th first-class century - and accepted the award from Nevis Cricket Association president Keith Scarborough with no fanfare, and with very few fans on hand.

It had been speculated that this would be his last hurrah in front of the home fans, but the closely held secret seems to have caught local authorities and fans by surprise. More Guyanese nationals residing in Nevis witnessed Williams' farewell century on Sunday, than did Nevisian or Leewards fans.

The region's most prolific batsman at the domestic level has amassed 5,911 runs in 78 matches at an average of just under 50. "I am still the target of every team, and that should not be," Williams said. "It is time for others to step up to the plate.

Asked about his future plans, Williams said he goes to South Africa in March for two matches, and will continue to ply his trade in the English leagues.

Williams appeared in 31 Test matches for the West Indies between 1994 and 2001, scoring one century (128 against India) among 1,183 runs, and also played 57 One-Day International (ODI) matches for the West Indies.