The former England captain will quit at the end of the season.

The Lancashire batsman, who led England 54 times and played in 115 Tests, was given a standing ovation following his last innings at The Oval at the weekend.

He was left out of the touring squad for India and New Zealand announced on Tuesday, in which uncapped pair Richard Dawson and James Foster were called up.

Atherton said: "The Oval Test match was my last for England and I now intend to fulfil my commitments with Lancashire before retiring from cricket at the end of the current season.

"I have enjoyed 15 wonderful years in cricket and would like to thank all the players and staff I have been involved with at Lancashire and England since I first came into the professional game."

Atherton enjoyed a long and distinguished England career, and among the highlights was a gritty match-saving innings in Johannesburg in 1995.

He staved off South Africa's attack for more than 10 hours as he made an unbeaten 185 to save the Test match.

It was hailed as one of the great Test knocks and was the fourth longest England innings in history.

Atherton played for much of his career with the pain of a back problem.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: "Certainly in my career both off the field and playing, he's probably one of the bravest guys I've witnessed play the game.

"He'll be a big loss in terms of what he produces on the pitch, and also what he brings to the dressing room.

"He's that sort of rock that people lean against, he's brought a number of young opening batsman into the rigours of Test Match cricket - and it is a shock particularly at the top of the order."