Essex: Ryan ten Doeschate to retire at the end of 2021 - at the age of 41

Ryan ten Doeschate has made 554 appearances across all formats for Essex over his 19 seasons at Chelmsford, scoring 17,046 runs and taking 348 wickets.

Former Essex club captain Ryan ten Doeschate will retire at the end of 2021, the county has announced.

The South Africa-born all-rounder, 41, joined Essex in 2003, twice captaining them to the County Championship and playing a key role in last season's Bob Willis Trophy triumph.

He was also in the Essex side that won their first T20 Blast in 2019.

He twice helped Kolkata Knight Riders win the IPL and made 55 white-ball appearances for the Netherlands.

Ten Doeschate, who has played in 33 one-day internationals and 22 T20s, was named in the Netherlands' squad earlier this month for the T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in Australia in October.

"Coming from Cape Town to be given a chance to pursue my dream seems a million moons ago," he said.

"We've shared some remarkable times but, for me, the biggest achievement has been making a home away from home. I have a collection of memories from Chelmsford to keep me happy long into retirement.

"From the bottom of my heart I'd like to thank everyone who has been involved with Essex during my time at the club."

Ten Doeschate made his Championship debut against Lancashire in July 2003, having already made his first Essex appearance in their inaugural T20 game against Surrey the month before.

He was appointed captain in 2016, overseeing Essex's promotion from Division Two that summer.

The following campaign he played a crucial role as Essex went unbeaten on their way to their first Championship title in 25 years.

In 2019 he led the county to their second title in three seasons before stepping down as skipper at the end of that summer, having already handed over the T20 captaincy to Simon Harmer.

"Your profession shouldn't define you as a person," added Ten Doeschate. "I realise that cricket is just a sport and that Essex is just one cog in the wheel of county cricket. But I'm not ashamed to say that for 19 summers Essex has been my purpose and focus."