Matthew Hayden today became the sixth member of the Australia team that thrashed England 5-0 in the 2007 Ashes to quit cricket.

The opener scored 8,625 runs in 103 Tests at an average of 50.73 in a 17-year career and also helped Australia to win two World Cups.

However, he averaged less than 20 during the recent 2-1 Test series defeat by South Africa and last week was left out of his country's one-day and Twenty20 squads.

There seemed little chance the 37-year-old would be selected for this summer's tour of England and accepted now was the time to go.

"I'm paid to get runs and when you are short of runs you have to start asking questions," he said.

During an emotional press conference in Brisbane, Hayden went on: "I have lived the dream and loved every minute - there's zero regrets when it comes to my cricket.

"I feel privileged to have been in a position where I've had longevity because I've experienced the enormity of the experience in the longer term."

Hayden will be do a lap of honour in front of his home crowd at the Gabba before tonight's Twenty20 international against South Africa.

He joins Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn in having quit during the past two years.

Meanwhile, former Australia batsman Darren Lehmann has ruled himself out of the running to coach England.

Lehmann, 38, had suggested he might be interested in succeeding Peter Moores and was put forward as a candidate by Shane Warne. But now the ex-Yorkshire captain says: "The time is not right."

Currently coaching Australia's academy and also the Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League, Lehmann added: "I'm flattered Shane has mentioned my name but my sole focus right now is with Deccan Chargers."

Tom Moody, the former Sri Lanka coach, and Graham Ford, Kent's highly rated South African, are early favourites for the England job but an appointment is unlikely before April.