Yorkshire batsman Michael Vaughan has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect at Edgbaston today.

The former England captain, who led his country to Ashes glory in 2005, revealed he would not play professionally again - with speculation suggesting he has become disillusioned with the sport and has lost his motivation.

"After a great deal of consideration, I've decided that now is the right time to retire from cricket," the 34-year-old said.

"It has been an enormous privilege to have played for and captained my country and this is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make.

"Having played almost non-stop for sixteen seasons, I feel that the time is right for the focus to shift to the next generation.

"We have some fantastic talent coming through the English counties and, with the next Ashes series upon us, now is the time for the younger players to rise to the challenge of building on the success achieved in English cricket in the last few years."

Vaughan retires as England's most successful ever captain, having led the side to 26 wins from his 51 matches in charge which included a run of eight consecutive Test wins in 2004 and a first series victory in South Africa for 40 years in 2005.

He crowned his time by lifting the famous urn after beating Australia 2-1 in a five-Test series the same year – which he describes as "most definitely the highpoint of my career".

However, he struggled for form and fitness in the intervening years and was ruled out of the return series down under in 2006/07.

Following a string of problems with his right knee, Vaughan finally made his return to the international fold ahead of the summer of 2008 but suffered from stuttering form and retired as captain at an emotional press conference after the second Test against South Africa.

"I'd like to record my sincere thanks to the England fans and the ECB and the members and supporters of Yorkshire County Cricket Club for their unstinting backing throughout my career as well as my wife Nicola and the rest of my family who have been equally supportive," he continued.

"I'm also extremely grateful to all of the players, managers, coaches, media and administrators I've worked with, who have all contributed to making my career so enjoyable and fulfilling.

"I'd also like to wish Andrew Strauss and the current England team success in this Ashes series. I know they have the drive, ambition and abilities to repeat the success from 2005."

Strauss said: "I count Michael as a good friend as well as a team-mate and I know what a tough decision this will have been for him as he took so much pleasure and pride in representing his country.

"I learned a great deal from watching him captain the side for five years at close hand and his ability to identify a new strategy for outwitting the opposition or bring the best out of his own players was a priceless asset.

"But more than anything we as players will miss the enormous sense of fun and enjoyment that Michael brought to the dressing room. He will be missed by everyone connected with the team and we wish him every success in his future career."

ECB chief executive David Collier added his thanks to Vaughan, who averaged more than 41 throughout his England career: "Everyone associated with cricket in England and Wales will be forever grateful to Michael Vaughan for his immense contribution to the England team's success.

"His achievement in leading England to victory against the number one ranked team in the world, Australia in 2005, was arguably the finest by any England captain in the modern era."

The managing director of England Cricket, Hugh Morris, was full of praise for Vaughan, who he said "ranks among the very best" in terms of cricketing talent and the ability to captain a side.

"The way in which he and Duncan Fletcher forged a team capable of winning six consecutive Test series stands as testament to his ability to inspire and motivate those around him," Morris explained.

“He was also a marvellous ambassador for England cricket off the field as well as on it and someone who genuinely appreciated the generous support he received from the thousands of England supporters who follow the team at home and abroad.

"No one who saw his magnificent hundreds in Australia in 2002/03 will forget the contribution he made to the team as a batsman either - he will be rightly remembered as a player of the highest class.”

Finally, Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan described Vaughan as "a class act".

"He will be remembered by Yorkshire members and supporters around the world for his beautiful stroke play and of course his success in leading England to Ashes glory in 2005," he said.

"It has been a pleasure and a privilege for me to get to know Michael over the past three years and his presence around the club has been hugely motivational, particularly the younger players.

"I wish him every success in the future and hope that he continues to take more than a passing interest in the fortunes of Yorkshire CCC.

"On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to personally thank him for his magnificent contribution not only to Yorkshire but to the game of cricket as a whole."
© Adfero Ltd