Matt Prior has conceded that he had little choice but to call time on his cricket career due to injury setbacks.
The former Sussex Sharks wicketkeeper bows out of the game with 79 England caps to his name, the last of which came in July 2014.
A recurring Achilles tendon issue has forced Prior to sit out the last year and, having failed to return to fitness in time for the 2015 campaign, he made the tough decision to call it a day.
"Today is a very sad day for me as I am forced to announce my retirement from the game I love," the South African-born right-hander said in a statement. "I had been hoping and expecting to be fit for the start of the 2015 season.
"Unfortunately, this has proved impossible, and I have now had to reach this decision. I have always tried to play with pride and passion and have a deep belief that the team will always come first, a value that will never leave me whatever I go on to do.
"Although I haven't achieved all the goals I had set out to, I feel immensely proud of what I have done in my career. Sadly it is now time to move on."
Prior became the first wicketkeeper to score a century on his England debut, hitting an unbeaten 126 at Lord's against West Indies in 2007.
Daniel Lewis
