Darren Thomas played a major part in a golden era for Glamorgan but at 31 he has left the club during his benefit year. A downturn in his bowling over the last two seasons â.. seven first-class appearances in 2005 and none this summer â.. meant the club had little option but to cut him adrift.

It is an unfortunate end for the seamer-cum-batsman, who took 504 first-class wickets and scored nearly 4,000 runs during 15 summers. After taking 5 for 80 as a 17-year-old on first-class debut Thomas contributed to Glamorganâ..s 1997 Championship-winning team and two one-day titles. He holds several records. He has Glamorganâ..s best one-day figures â.. 7 for 16 against Surrey at Swansea in 1998 â.. and the worst ever in county cricket â.. 9-0-108-3. He also has the best figures by an England A bowler: 8 for 50 against Zimbabwe A in Harare 1998-99.

"I have had a memorable time at Glamorgan,â..â.. says Thomas. â..â..My only disappointment is the lack of opportunities over the last couple of years but I reckon I still have something to offer another county."

Richard Thomas, The Wisden Cricketer