Brett Lee retires from international cricket

July 13, 2012

Brett Lee has confirmed his retirement from international cricket, but he has declared his intention to play on in the Big Bash League and the IPL. Cricket Australia scheduled a press conference at the SCG for 1pm on Friday at which Lee was to "discuss his playing future", and he confirmed his decision on Channel Nine ahead of the press conference.

"It has been a dream career, I guess, 13 years at the top. I couldn't ask for much more," Lee said. "Thirteen years, Friday the 13th, it's appropriate for me to go. I woke up this morning after not much sleep and it's the right time to go. It just came to me this morning and I just felt it's the right time to leave the game. It's been in the back of my mind for a few months."

Lee, 35, declined a Cricket New South Wales state contract last month, declaring that he wanted to win an upgrade to a Cricket Australia deal by playing enough ODIs and Twenty20s to qualify. He had planned to play on for the ICC World Twenty20 in September but his latest injury setback, a calf problem that forced him home from the one-day tour of England, is believed to have led Lee to reassess his future.

He will depart the game as Australia's equal leading wicket taker in one-day internationals, having moved level with Glenn McGrath on 380 victims. Lee retired from Test cricket in February 2010, but remained a valuable player in the shorter formats, for his country and his various domestic teams around the world.