England captain Andrew Strauss has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect.
The Middlesex opener, 35, was thought to be solely resigning as England Test captain on Wednesday – but has decided to bring his career in the sport to a close.
He played in 100 Test matches and scored more than 17,000 first-class runs. His final appearance for Middlesex came in the Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Uxbridge in June, when he made an unbeaten 127.
Strauss said: “There are too many people who have helped me on this incredible journey to mention them all by name, but I would like to thank all the Middlesex and England players I have played alongside, as well as the phenomenal coaches and support staff with whom I have been fortunate enough to work.”
Hugh Morris, managing director of the England team, called Strauss “one of the outstanding cricketers of his generation.”
Morris added: “He has been a great servant to Middlesex County Cricket Club and England and an outstanding ambassador to the game.”
Strauss scored 83 on his County Championship debut for Middlesex in 1998 and took over as captain in 2002.
He made his Test debut in 2004, scoring a century against New Zealand at Lord’s, and was appointed to lead England in January 2009, overseeing two successive Ashes series victories.
Middlesex chairman Ian Lovett said: “Andrew Strauss has been a wonderful servant to the game, Middlesex and England.
“All the while he has been an England player his interest and support for everything we do at Middlesex has been fantastic.
“The club is hugely grateful for everything he has done. We wish him and his family a happy and successful future.”
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This post was last modified on 29/08/2012