Lee calls it quits saying 'Edgbaston is career highlight'

Brett Lee who has retired from international cricket (Getty Images)

Brett Lee retired from international cricket yesterday, claiming he woke up in the morning and decided "enough is enough".

The Australian fast bowler says he can no longer offer the required commitment to succeed at the highest level after almost 12 and a half years of donning the Baggy Green. The 35-year-old was expected to stand down after the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka later this year but decided to bring his retirement forward after questioning his appetite for battle.

"The last two or three nights I thought about it a lot," Lee said. "I woke up this morning and just felt like I was ready.

"In a team environment you have to have 100 per cent commitment, mentally and physically. And I guess looking at the next few months I just didn't have that desire any more.

"People can look back and say I tried my hardest every time I went on to the cricket field. You can look at the records and stuff but that doesn't worry me, what I am proud of is my longevity."

Lee flew home early from the tour of England – which concluded this week with Australia suffering a 4-0 humbling – due to a calf strain but will continue to play in limited-overs formats for New South Wales and in the Indian Premier League.

"It's now stage two of my life coming up so I'm pretty happy and pretty excited," he added. "My holiday will be at home; I'm sick of being away."

As he reflected on his career, Lee singled out the Edgbaston Test in the 2005 Ashes defeat by England – a two-run defeat which featured an iconic handshake and embrace between victorious England bowler Andrew Flintoff and a disconsolate Lee – as one of many highlights.

"That was still one of my favourite Test matches to play in because of the way it was played...the spirit of the game," Lee said.

Lee retired from the Test arena in February 2010 after claiming 310 scalps at an average of 30.81 in 76 matches.

He ends his one-day international career with a total of 380 wickets – one short of Glenn McGrath's Australian record haul – from 221 matches at an average of 23.36 and an economy rate of 4.76.