Vaughan confirms retirement

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the 34-year-old's decision ahead of a scheduled press conference at Edgbaston.

Vaughan, who famously led England to their first Ashes series victory in a generation four years ago, had been hoping to regain form and fitness in time to re-engage with the old enemy this summer.

But with both elements proving elusive, the Yorkshire batsman accepted the inevitable.

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

"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 16 seasons, I feel 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."

Reflecting on the backing he has had throughout his career, Vaughan added: "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.

"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. Winning that series was most definitely the high point of my career."