Nick Knight retires from ODIs

The post-World Cup exodus of England's old guard continued with the announcement by Nick Knight that he was retiring from one-day internationals. The news follows similar decisions by Nasser Hussain and Andy Caddick, and signals from Alec Stewart that he is ready to step down as well.

"I have decided to call it a day," Knight, 33, told Sky Sports. "I've had a fantastic time and enjoyed every moment of it. I've been planning it for a while and it's something I've thought long and hard about recently. It'll be nice to spend some time at home and at Warwickshire.

"I was desperate to play in the World Cup having missed out on the last one, but I've got other challenges ahead of me. There is an incredible amount of talent in the game, it's four years before the next World Cup, I'm not going to make it, so it's a chance for other guys to make it."

Asked whether the England selectors had tried to talk him out of the decision, Knight was cagey. "They were very good but I've made the decision and it's something I'm going to stick by." David Graveney, England's chairman of selectors, explained that he had talked with Knight recently, adding that "you have to respect players' views in that situation".

Knight only retired from ODIs, insisting that he would, "still like to play some Test cricket". But he was realistic enough to admit that he was not sure that he would "get the call".

In 100 ODIs Knight scored 3637 runs at 40.41 including five hundreds, but he never cemented his place in the Test side, making 719 runs at 23.96 in his 17 Tests, with a highest score of 113 against Pakistan in 1996.