After being dropped from the Australian team for the first Ashes Test, Mark Waugh announced his retirement at a press conference in Sydney in a matter-of-fact, typically understated manner. "I'd like to take this opportunity to announce my retirement from international cricket," Waugh declared. "Having been left out of the Test team and the one-day team earlier this year, I feel my chances of playing for Australia at 37 have led to this decision.

"While I'm disappointed not to play for Australia again, I've been very lucky to have played for so long in a great era of Australian cricket."

Waugh played in Australia's last 107 Test matches, a streak second only to Allan Border's run of 153 Tests.

Waugh was informed of his omission by Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, on October 26, as the weekend began. "I was a bit emotional, [but] I've had a great career so why worry? It's got to come to an end and there are a lot of people worse off than me.

"I didn't really enjoy the last bit of my career, especially in the last three Tests [against Pakistan].

"I have handled pressure pretty well through my career but you can only take so much. The last six months or so, whenever I pick up the papers my name is mentioned and every time I go out to bat whatever I do there will be close scrutiny.

"If I make runs someone is going to say it will be a scratchy 50, if I don't make runs he's out of form, if I drop a catch it might lose the game for the team and I don't think that was the ideal way to play your cricket."

After the announcement, Mark's brother Steve led the tributes. "It has been a pleasure and a privilege to have played alongside my brother at Test level for the past 12 years," he said. "And it will seem very strange not to have him with us when we walk out in Brisbane. Mark has been an inspiration not only to his team-mates but also to a host of young players because of the way he has played the game - hard but fair and in a positive way."

Ian Healy, who was himself forced out of international cricket three years ago, added that the romance had gone out of the game with Mark's retirement: "I'm not really surprised. It's a great bloke and a great player finished. But I'm delighted for Darren Lehmann."

James Sutherland, the chief executive of the Australian Cricket Board, said Mark would be remembered as one of the country's all-time greats. His contribution to the game will be recognised during the fifth Test in his home town of Sydney in January.

"His 14 years at the elite level have been studded with records," said Sutherland. "He will be remembered as one of the finest cricketers this country has ever produced."

While international audiences will be deprived of seeing Waugh in action, he will remain on view in Australian domestic cricket, and will continue playing for New South Wales.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd