Bristol, July 31 (NationPress) Chris Dent, the esteemed opening batter for Gloucestershire, has officially declared his retirement from professional cricket, effective immediately. At 34 years old, he has participated in 356 matches for the team, accumulating over 15,000 runs in various formats. Notably, in first-class cricket, he achieved 11,237 runs at an average of 36.01, ranking him as the 28th highest run-scorer in the club's history.

A native of Bristol, Dent joined the Gloucestershire Pathway Programme at just 12 years old, making his senior debut in 2009 during a Pro40 match against Nottinghamshire. Throughout his career, he surpassed 1,000 first-class runs in a season on four separate occasions, with his latest achievement occurring in 2019—a landmark year when he played a crucial role in leading the team to promotion to Division One, marking their first appearance in the top tier since 2005.

Despite his remarkable journey, Dent faced challenges this season, struggling to find form in the early rounds of the County Championship, and has not played for the first team since April.

“After 16 unforgettable seasons in professional cricket, I’ve concluded that now is the right moment to bid farewell to the game,” Dent stated. “It’s difficult to articulate what cricket has meant to me, but I will be eternally thankful.”

“I owe my gratitude to Gloucestershire CCC for the opportunity I received 16 years ago. The unwavering support and trust you’ve shown have significantly contributed to my successes over the years.”

“To the fans—your encouragement during my career has been invaluable. Especially over these past few challenging years, the love and kindness you’ve extended have supported me more than you can imagine.”

“The greatest thanks go to all my teammates. You all have made the last 16 years incredibly memorable. I feel exceptionally fortunate to have shared the field with so many outstanding individuals. As I reflect on my career, my favorite memories are cherished because of the people I experienced them with. Even though my time as a cricketer has concluded, I hope to continue making memories with you all.”

Mark Alleyne, Gloucestershire's head coach, remarked, “Reaching the conclusion of a first-class career can be daunting. However, I’m confident that Denty will reminisce fondly about his time with Gloucestershire.”

“I remember him as a teenager in the Academy, and it comes as no surprise that he became one of our most treasured players to emerge from our Pathway.”

“Batting at the top of the order in England is no easy feat, yet he consistently made significant contributions from that position. His continued presence kept him on England's radar, although he never received the call-up. I believe he could have excelled on the international stage.”

“While he remains in excellent physical condition, the mental challenges have made appearances limited in recent times.”

“The last few years will not overshadow what has been a remarkable career with the Glorious, and I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for his significant contributions over the years.”