LONDON, Sept 22: Warwickshire batsman Trevor Penney on Thursday announced his retirement from first-class cricket to enable him to join the coaching team that will prepare Sri Lanka for the 2007 World Cup. Penney, regarded as one of the best fielders in English cricket, has been appointed as Assistant Coach to the Sri Lankan team on a contract that runs up until the World Cup in the West Indies.

The 37-year-old will work closely with newly-appointed Head Coach Tom Moody, a former Warwickshire batsman himself and a former coach of county rivals Worcestershire.

Zimbabwe-born Penney said the opportunity of working with the Sri Lankans was too good to miss.

“I have spent half my life with Warwickshire, and I have enjoyed a wonderful and highly successful career with the Bears, winning trophies and medals along the way, so retiring from all of this was not something I could consider lightly,” he said.

“But when an opportunity came along to start a new career in coaching, and at international level, I simply couldn’t turn it down. I would like to take this opportunity to thanks everybody involved at Warwickshire CCC for their support and encouragement throughout my entire career.”—AFP