CRAIG Kieswetter says he is ‘walking away from cricket with no regrets’ after announcing his retirement from the professional game, as result of the horrific eye injury he suffered last summer.

Kieswetter, 27, was struck in the face by a delivery from David Willey in a County Championship match against Northants last summer – and despite making a brief return to the game, but has not recovered sufficiently to enable him to regain his best form.

Kieswetter said: “After been given the opportunity to take some time off and step away from the game, I’ve come to the decision that wasn’t the easiest to make, yet I feel is the right one.

“Having gone through that experience of my eye injury and everything it entailed, I feel mentally I will never again be the player that I was.

“I have had a terrific career, with plenty of ups and occasional downs, and I am calling time on my career and walking away with no regrets.

“There are so many people that I am grateful to yet most importantly I need to thank my family, without whom, nothing I have achieved would have been possible.

“Their sacrifices to help me to be able to achieve some fantastic success, defines the importance of family.

“I’d also like to thank Somerset County Cricket Club for giving me the opportunity to play as a professional, to help mould me and for their loyalty.

“It is a club full of so many incredible people and with a great bunch of supporters.

“I would especially like to thank Brian Rose, the former director of cricket who gave me my first contract at Somerset, Andy Hurry who was my first team coach and Darren Veness who helped to make me into what I am today.

“These three guys have been huge influences to me in my career.

“I’ll have so many memories of a career that spanned nine years of my life during which I have made so many friends - see you all on the sidelines.”

Somerset CEO, Guy Lavender said: “This is awful news both for Craig and the club but we completely understand why he has come to this difficult decision.

“Craig has made an immense contribution to the success of Somerset and England since joining us. “His performances with the bat and gloves have been outstanding and have endeared him to all cricket fans, not just at Somerset but right across the globe.”