DURBAN, March 15: South Africa batsman Gary Kirsten has confirmed he will retire from Test cricket after the current tour of New Zealand. The 36-year-old opener is South Africa's most prolific Test batsman with 7,210 runs.

In a statement issued by a South African team spokesman from New Zealand, Kirsten, who had originally planned to quit Tests last year, said his retirement was overdue.

"My wife, Deborah, and I had made a decision that when our first child arrived I would retire, but with Joshua now nearly four months old it has overlapped a little," Kirsten said.

"I was lucky enough to play with and against some wonderful cricketers and I take many great memories with me." The second of three Tests on Proteas's current tour, which starts in Auckland on Thursday, will be Kirsten's 100th. The third Test in Wellington starts on March 26. Left-hander Kirsten made his Test debut in the 1993-94 tour of Australia. He has a Test average of 45.92. -Reuters