Kent batsman Mike Powell has called time on his cricketing career, deciding to retire at the age of 36.

The former Glamorgan batsman has spent the past two season at Canterbury, but found chances limited at Kent this season and hasn’t featured for the first team since the end of May as Kent played Leicestershire in the County Championship at Tunbridge Wells.

Powell will leave the game having scored 13,421 first class runs at an average of 38.45 with 27 centuries and 70 first class fifties to his name.

Recently having become a father for the first time, Powell scored two first class centuries for Kent in his time with the club, but will be renowned for his time at Glamorgan where he spent fourteen seasons, top scoring with 299 against Gloucestershire in 2006.

The stylish right hander came ever so close to featuring for England when called up as cover after Marcus Trescothick picked up an injury, but was released from the One Day squad without playing back in 2004.

Commenting on his retirement, Powell said; “I have had a wonderful career and I owe a lot to many people within cricket. I enjoyed an extremely rewarding career at Glamorgan and have also relished the opportunity to play for Kent over the last two seasons.

“I would like to thank everyone for their continued support throughout my career, including supporters at both at Glamorgan and Kent. I have a number of exciting opportunities on the horizon, and look forward to moving on to the next stage of my career.”

Kent County Cricket Club Chairman of Cricket, Graham Johnson commented on the announcement; “Mike has helped Kent through a transition period, and true to his approach to cricket over a number of years, has done so in a very positive way, adding to all aspects of Kent Cricket.

“I find it particularly pleasing for someone who has added so much to professional cricket that such a positive opportunity has arisen to enable Mike to look forward in his life after cricket. I hope he finds time to come back to see the fruits of what he has helped establish, he will always be welcome.“

Powell will take up a position at Thomas Carroll PLC, a Cardiff based multi-discipline consultancy.

One of the game’s greatest characters and full of enthusiasm, Powell will be missed by Kent and Glamorgan fans alike.

Picture supplied by www.sarahansellphotography.com