Farewell to two old stalwarts

Auckland paceman Kerry Walmsley and Canterbury batsman Gary Stead are hanging up their boots. Both are the sort of players that are a god-send to domestic teams. Hard-working, reliable and consistently overlooked for national honours - meaning that both were almost always available for first-class cricket.

Walmsley was one of those odd fast-bowlers who just seemed to get better as his career went on. His took 6-24 in his last first-class bowling performance and in the final years of his career age was probably the only factor that prevented him from achieving further honours.

Stead is another player who almost certainly deserved more time at the top. I seem to recall that he started his career as a leg-spinner, but he quickly established himself at the top of the Canterbury order thanks to his gritty and solid batting. He only ever seemed to gain selection for New Zealand as a replacement and I can't recall him ever letting the side down.