OXFORDSHIRE cricketer Richard Kaufman has retired from playing for the county.

The 38-year-old has called it a day after travelling to matches from Cambridge became increasingly difficult.

The opener was Oxfordshire’s highest scorer in the Unicorns Counties Championship Western Division in 2019 to cap a stellar 17-year career.

After making his debut in 2003, Kaufman played 71 championship games, scoring 4,416 runs at an average of 38 and making eight hundreds.

County captain Jonny Cater said: “I will remember Kaufy for his destructive approach to batting, often making opposition teams hesitate at the thought of bowling to him.

“Playing for 17 seasons is a testament to his commitment to Oxfordshire cricket and he will be missed by the players and coaching staff."

Head coach Rupert Evans added: “He rarely missed a game and despite having to travel from Cambridge he was usually the first player to arrive at the ground and first in the nets to prepare.”

Kaufman also scored three centuries in 50-over cricket, including an Oxfordshire record of 170 against Bedfordshire in 2011.

He took 101 wickets across both formats with his off spin and was part of the side that won the MCCA T20 Test Event at Wormsley in 2016.