Tim Groenewald has joined Kent's coaching staff after retiring from professional cricket.

The 37-year-old has called time on his 16-year pro career due to a knee injury.

But Kent will be utilising his experience for the remainder of the season as he stays at the club in a coaching capacity.

Kent director of cricket Paul Downton said: “Tim has enjoyed a long and successful career in first-class cricket playing for a number of counties and winning several titles.

"He has been a great role model for any young player in the way that he has conducted himself both on and off the pitch.

“He will be missed in the dressing room here at Kent – he has been a popular and highly respected figure within the squad and a particularly valuable source of knowledge and experience for our young bowlers.

“I am pleased to say that Tim will stay with us until the end of the season in a coaching capacity.

“On behalf of everyone at the club I’d like to wish Tim the very best in the next chapter of his career, and he will always be welcome back at Kent.”

Seamer Groenewald made his first-class debut for Warwickshire as a 22-year-old in 2006, and made 362 professional appearances across all formats, with stints at Derbyshire, Somerset and Kent.

He has 625 professional wickets to his name including 16 five-wicket hauls, as well as scoring over 3,000 career runs with a strike rate of 124.53 in T20s.

Groenewald played nine matches for Kent after joining ahead of the 2020 season, taking seven wickets. His best figures of 2-31 came in a T20 Blast clash with Surrey in September 2020.

Groenewald said: “I feel privileged to have played professional cricket for 16 years, I will always be extremely grateful to the clubs I’ve represented and the opportunities they have afforded me.

“I’ve made some lifelong friends and memories along the way and will cherish those forever.

“I required knee surgery in April and despite amazing support from the medical team at Kent and giving it every chance, I haven’t recovered well enough to return to playing.”

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