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Essex Captain Ronnie Irani has announced his retirement from first-class cricket with immediate effect.

Further to the recent statement that Ronnie would stop playing at the end of this season, subsequent consultation with Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt has shown more serious damage from a recent knee injury than initially feared.

Muller-Wolfahrt’s expert opinion is that to carry on any form of professional sport at this point would serverly affect Ronnie’s lifestyle and health and that his career should therefore end immediately.

Following an MRI scan in Munich in May and further examinations in June the German specialist arrived at his prognosis:

“Ronnie Irani obtained an injury to his right knee during the (Championship) game against Leicestershire (at Grace Road) on 19th May 2007; he slipped and twisted his knee and felt at once an acute sharp pain to the inside of his right knee.

“(In conclusion) because of this fresh acute injury I have recommended to Ronnie to stop his professional sports activities immediately.”

Ronnie Irani gave the following statement to the Essex CCC website (www.essexcricket.org.uk):

“I’m naturally disappointed that things are ending this way. I was hoping to swallow this bitter pill at the end of the season but unfortunately the end of my playing career has come earlier than anticipated.

“I feel that I still have a duty to finish off the season on the sidelines with Essex and hopefully have a small part to play in helping the team during the remainder of the campaign.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved with Essex County Cricket Club from the Committee to the members and supporters to the players.”

Ronnie will do a lap of honour to show his appreciation of the Essex supporters during the interval of Friday night’s Twenty20 Cup match between Essex Eagles and Sussex Sharks at The Ford County Ground.

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All-rounder Adam Hollioake has joined Essex to play in this year’s Twenty20 Cup.

The 35-year-old former Surrey player will represent the Essex Eagles during the 20-over tournament that begins on Friday.

Hollioake has signed on a short-term contract that will last for the duration of the competition.

With three of Essex’s home Twenty20 Cup fixtures already sold out the remaining tickets left for the clash with Hollioake’s former side Surrey at The Ford County Ground on Thursday June 28 are certain to be snapped up.

On joining Essex Hollioake told the Essex CCC website (www.essexcricket.org.uk):

“I love playing Twenty20 cricket and this fits in very nicely because, with my business commitments, it’s impossible to commit to the training required to play all year round. With the Twenty20 Cup schedule fitting into the school holidays and this being the best time of year in England this was an offer too good to refuse.

“I’ve signed for the duration of Essex’s Twenty20 Cup participation and I won’t be playing beyond that period. I’m now looking forward to getting the red gear on and seeing how I’ll do.”

Meanwhile, Essex Chief Executive David East told the Essex CCC website:

“It is great news for the Club that Adam Hollioake has agreed to join us for the Twenty20 tournament. There is no question he is a very fine player who will add enormous value to our side for this fantastic competition.”

Hollioake, who played four Test matches and 35 one-day internationals for England, proved himself a master of Twenty20 cricket during its first two years before retiring from the game at the end of the 2004 season.

The Australian-born cricketer averaged 28.55 at a strike-rate of 147.70 with the bat while his efforts with the ball were even more impressive, claiming 36 victims in 14 matches with a strike-rate of a wicket every 8.36 balls.

Hollioake captained Surrey to the Twenty20 Cup in its inaugural year before leading his team to the final again in 2004, where they lost to Leicestershire Foxes.

He is in line to make his Essex Eagles debut in Friday night’s tournament opener against Sussex Sharks at The Ford County Ground.

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ECB have today announced that the Worcestershire Captain, Vikram Solanki, will captain the England Lions side against the West Indies in the one day match at New Road on Thursday 21st June.

Vikram has recently struck some impressive form. Against Warwickshire Bears in a FPT game, he hit an impressive 144no, with his hundred coming in just 82 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes. Against Surrey, he built on this by achieving a new career best first class score of 232 in his first innings. Just this week he scored another hundred against Scotland in just 83 balls.

The England Lions team against the West Indies will also include two other Worcestershire players, Kabir Ali and Gareth Batty.

Kabir Ali, the County’s leading wicket taker, produced career best figures of 8-50 in the LV County Championship match against Lancashire in May. Kabir has consistently taken wickets for Worcestershire this season and has had good form throughout.

Gareth Batty has also had an impressive start to the season. He was the leading wicket taker in the recent LV County Championship match against Surrey with match figures of 8-184.

All three players have international experience and will look to take this opportunity to establish their credentials with the new England Coach for the forthcoming NatWest Series.

Worcestershire supporters will also be pleased to see that Chris Gayle, who played for the county in 2005, has been selected to captain the West Indies one day side during the forthcoming Natwest series.

Vikram Solanki said, “I am delighted to be asked to captain England Lions against the West Indies. I am pleased with my form in recent weeks so to Captain the England Lions on my home ground is an honour. I hope the game on Thursday against the West Indies will prove to be similarly successful for the whole England Lions team.”

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