England cricket captain Andrew Strauss - the former Oxfordshire batsman - has this morning announced his retirement from professional cricket.

Alastair Cook has been named as the new England Test captain.

Strauss has decided to call time on his career after making 100 Test appearances for England, 50 of which were as skipper.

England won 24 of those 50 Tests under Strauss, making him the national team's third most experienced leader and the second most successful behind Michael Vaughan.

The Middlesex batsman also led the side to home and away Ashes triumphs as well as their surge to world number one last summer, the first time England had held the position since the rankings were introduced.

Strauss said: "After much thought over the last few weeks, I have decided to step down as England Test captain and announce my retirement from all forms of cricket.

"It has clearly been a tough decision to make but I believe that it is both in the best interests of the England cricket team and myself to step down at this stage.

"I am extremely proud of everything I have achieved as a cricketer, and I have found myself very fortunate to play in an era when some of English cricket's greatest moments have occurred. I have loved every minute of it."