Franklin ends New Zealand career with Middlesex move

New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin effectively ended his international career after it was announced Friday the 34-year-old all-rounder had signed a two-year contract with English county Middlesex. The left-hander is set to play as a non-overseas player with the county, subject to clearance from the England and Wales Cricket Board, on account of his Irish ancestry. Such a classification would render Franklin ineligible to continue to represent New Zealand, for whom he has featured in 31 Tests, 110 one-day internationals and 38 Twenty20 matches, although the last of these appearances was in 2013. The left-hander, a big-hitting batsman and medium-pace bowler, intends to remain with Wellington until the end of the current New Zealand domestic season in early April before heading to London. "Whilst I'm very honoured to be joining Middlesex for the next few years, I want to first take my cap off to Wellington for whom I've had a hugely enjoyable and memorable career in New Zealand," said Franklin in a Middlesex statement. "It's been an absolute privilege to play for Wellington for over 15 years. "And although this decision closes the chapter on playing for New Zealand again I know I've been incredibly fortunate to have spent over a decade being involved playing international cricket, and have had some of my greatest memories and experiences in cricket playing with the Silver Fern on my cap. "My family and I will relocate to London in April and we're all very excited about what the future holds," added Franklin, who has previously played county cricket for Gloucestershire, Essex, Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire.