Former Black Caps and Central Districts batsman Mathew Sinclair has announced his retirement from all cricket.

Sinclair appeared in 33 Tests, 54 one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches for New Zealand, and is one of only three New Zealanders to have scored two double centuries.

He scored 214 on debut against the West Indies in Wellington in 1999, and followed that with 204 not out against Pakistan the following year.

Sinclair finished with a Test average of 32, and a one-day average of 28, including two centuries.

The 37-year-old Sinclair, who debuted for Central Districts in 1995, went on to make 119 first-class appearances. He amassed over 13,000 runs at an average of 48, including 36 centuries.

Sinclair says the timing is right to call time on his playing career.

"I have two young children and a wife who I want to spend more time with, and the constant travel makes that pretty tough," he said.

"I'm also at the stage where I want to get into a career outside of cricket and unless you are in a position to totally devote yourself, it's difficult to get the opportunities."