Former Australian fast bowler Paul Reiffel has announced his retirement from first-class cricket. Reiffel, 35, took 104 Test wickets in an eight-year international career, with a best of 6 for 71 against England at Edgbaston in 1993. He was a key member of Australia's World Cup-winning squad in 1999, and retired from internationals immediately after helping to beat Pakistan in the final at Lord's.

He has been captain of Victoria since 1999-2000, though injury had restricted him to just four matches this season and he will not start the match against New South Wales later this week.

Shaun Graf, Victoria's chairman of selectors, respected Reiffel's decision, but admitted that the announcement came as a shock. "We thank him for his enormous contribution to his team during his career," Graf said, "in particular the last two seasons as captain."

Reiffel was Victoria's leading wicket-taker in Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup history, with 318 wickets in 86 matches, at an average of 25.91, since his debut in 1987-88.

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