New Zealand duo retire

New Zealand

Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins and batsman Shanan Stewart have retired from competitive cricket.

Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins and batsman Shanan Stewart have retired from competitive cricket.

Hopkins played four Tests, 25 ODIs and 10 Twenty20 Internationals between June 2004 and December 2010.

"The game has changed. Now there's strength, mental, nutrition, technical and video analysis – so many tools you can use," the 37-year-old told told the <i>New Zealand Herald</i>.

"Sometimes I think we get a little confused, but each of them can aid you if you use them correctly."

Stewart represented the Black Caps in four ODIs in 2010 – but never returned on the back of poor scores of four and six against Australia and two and 14 against Bangladesh.

"It was still a very tough call. I've made some really good mates in this sport and it was a pretty tough decision to retire," the 31-year-old told <i>Fairfax NZ News</i>.

"But I've got a young family now and other things on my plate and, really, at the end of the day I probably wasn't having as much success as I wanted."

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