Eighteen years after announcing his arrival on the Cup Match stage with blistering back to back half centuries at Wellington Oval, Somerset Cricket Club all-rounder Richard Basden has officially retired from the annual classic.

Basden made the stunning announcement yesterday, a decision which could very well open the door for young all-rounder Jacobi Robinson, Jermaine Postlethwaite or Saleem Mukuddem to come into the champion's XI.

Basden scored an unbeaten 57 runs as a colt in 1985 during Somerset's first innings and then backed that performance up with yet another solid knock of 55 runs in the second.

For an encore, the elegant left-handed all-rounder stroked a polished 56 the very next year in front of his home crowd at Somerset Cricket Club to record an unprecedented third half -century in his first three turns at bat.

The middle-order batsman scored 564 runs in Cup Match from 1985 to 2001 at an average of 28.20 runs per innings with a high score of 62.

In 2001, Basden, along with Janeiro Tucker put on 137 runs for the sixth-wicket in Cup Match, a stand second only to the record of 229 established by St.George's pair Rupert Scotland and Lee Raynor at Somerset Cricket Club in 1974.

Basden's elder sibling, Dexter, retired from Cup Match following Somerset's four-wicket triumph last year at Somerset Cricket Club.

"It's been a long time and I've had a good (Cup Match) career. I've had some ups and downs but generally I think that I've had a good career," Basden reflected yesterday.

"The fans have been great. Somerset Cricket Club, Willow Cuts and all of my supporters have been great. When I look back on my career, I think that I have done a good job for Somerset over the years and that's what it's always been about.

"It's never been all about me - it's always been for the Somerset community, and right now we still have a lot of senior players. So now it's up to them to take the bull by the horns and lead the way."

Basden reckons it's time for a change.

"It's not easy sometimes making a change when you have the trophy, but it has to be done sometime, and I for one am quite realistic with what's happening in cricket at Somerset as far as Cup Match is concerned," he added.

"We need new life. Last year we had Dennis Pilgrim come in which gave us a lot of life and a new identity. We all can't play forever so it's up to us to make that call whenever we decide or feel it's best to bow out. And quite honestly . . . I feel it's my time."

In fact, Basden said he would have liked to have retired last year with brother Dexter. However, a freak accident with the lawn mower prevented that from occurring, the player missing the match through injury.

"After last year I thought about retiring but I decided to leave the door open just in case one of our senior players got injured and they needed me to come in," he said. "But I've had a year to think about it and I feel it's my time. I'm not one to stretch it on and on. I feel I need to bow out and I've now come to that conclusion."

However, although he may not be on the pitch itself, Basden's presence will still be felt at Cup Match later this month as he's taken on the role as Somerset's manager.

"I am still involved as a manager and I intend to play my role as a senior member of the team. But as a player, I'm officially retired," he added.

"I am still young (36) but looking at Cup Match, I'm pretty old in years.

"It's been a long haul and it's not been easy - especially as an all-rounder," he noted.

"Some people have the luxury of just batting or bowling, but for me I've always had to bat, bowl and field - and it's taking its toll."

Growing family and work commitments also influenced Basden's recent decision.

"I can only play by working nights," said the full-time prison warden. "A lot of people don't realise that I play Saturdays, knock off Sunday mornings, play cricket all Sunday afternoons and then go back to work at night. And that's weekend in, weekend out.

"It's been non-stop for the past five-years and it has taken its toll on me and my family also.

"I have two daughters and my wife and I currently have a major project underway. So I've thought about it seriously and it's just that time, and I'm very happy with my decision.

"And as you know, there's more to life then just cricket."

Reflecting on some of the highlights during his Cup Match career, Basden singles out playing alongside uncles Kevin and Rodney Fubler during the 1994 classic and watching brother Dexter hoist the coveted trophy in 1996 as two of his most cherished moments.

Ironically, Basden never played on a winning Somerset team as he missed 1988, 1996, and the 2002 classics for varying reasons.

"Obviously we all would like to be on a winning team, but the most important thing was that Somerset won.

"I look back at that year (1996) and the expressions that were on some of the player's faces - especially Dexter's - when he lifted the trophy and rode that horse up in Somerset. That was probably the best highlight of my career.

"And of course the two half-centuries that I scored in 1985 and 1986 when I came back and got another.

"But I've never been a personal player. I've always been a team player.

"As long as Somerset Cricket Club and the Somerset community are happy with my performances, then I'm pretty much pleased with that."