Essex batter Browne to retire at end of season

Nick Browne made his Essex debut against Worcestershire in May 2013 and has played 209 games across all formats

Long-serving Essex opening batter Nick Browne will retire from professional cricket at the end of the season after more than a decade with the county.

The 34-year will end his 12-year stay after Essex's final County Championship match of 2025 against Somerset at Chelmsford, which starts on Wednesday.

In that time, the left-hander has scored nearly 9,000 runs across all formats and hit 22 centuries.

Browne also won the County Championship in 2017 and again in 2019 - along with the T20 Blast - and the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020.

He scored more than 1,000 first-class runs three seasons running from 2015-2017 and in 2022 became only the second Essex player, after England and Essex great Graham Gooch, to hit four double centuries in first-class cricket for the club.

In a statement, Browne, who has been with Essex since he was eight, said it had been "my lifelong dream" to play for the club and "had loved every minute of it".

"I am incredibly grateful to all my coaches who have thrown millions of balls at me over the years. They have supported me through so many great days and some average ones," he said.

"I want to say a massive thank you to all of the members and fans of Essex for your unwavering support throughout the years.

"I have played every ball, every session and every day like it is my last.

"I have tried to play with a smile on my face every day and hope I have given you some joy and happiness."

Essex chief executive officer Dan Feist said Browne was "the epitome of dedication and professionalism" whose contributions to the club had been "remarkable".

Essex must avoid defeat in their final red-ball match against Somerset to avoid the prospect of relegation to the second division next season.