Murray, 30, was a captaincy contender with Lee Germon's end-of-season retirement having filled the role on occasions in Germon's absence.

Murray said he was finding it difficult doing justice to playing and his work as a chartered accountant. He has recently started a new job as general manager (finance) at Owens Freight Services.

Murray played 53 first-class matches, 32 for Canterbury, and eight tests for New Zealand and finished with a respectable career average of 34.60, including seven hundreds, his highest 182 against Sri Lanka in 1994-95.

That season he made his highest test score, 52 against West Indies at the Basin Reserve, after also opening on the tour of South Africa.

Murray sacrificed his New Zealand place when electing to remain working in the Netherlands during 1995-96 and on returning home was unable to recapture a position in the Black Caps.

``No, I don't have any regrets staying on in Holland. It was just how things worked out at the time.''

Murray was an integral part of a regular Canterbury Shell series winning teams during the 1990s.

At Trophy level Murray scored 1619 runs at 33.72 with three hundreds, the highest 153 against Northern Districts in 1996-97. In Shell Cup one-day play he made 37 appearances scoring 905 runs at 31.20.

``I really enjoyed my time with Canterbury, playing for a strong and successful team.''