Udal took 822 wickets in 301 first-class games

Middlesex off-spinner Shaun Udal has announced his retirement.

The 41-year-old, who played four Tests and 11 one-day internationals for England, spent 19 season with Hampshire before joining Middlesex in 2007.

"I am extremely lucky to have played the game I love for such a long period of time," said Udal.

"It is a sad day - waving goodbye to something special is always difficult - but I look forward to getting stuck in to the next chapter of my life."

He added: I have played with and against some great cricketers and characters, and treasure the moments I spent playing with and competing against these men.

"I have many good friends in cricket and hope to continue to enjoy their company."

606: DEBATE Will he be missed by Middlesex or is the time right for the younger generation to take over? BBC Sport's Stephan Shemilt

The Farnborough-born right-armer made his Hampshire debut in 1989 and went on to make his first appearance for England in a one-day international against New Zealand in 1994.

His performances in one-day cricket earned him a place on the Ashes tour of 1994-95, but a torn side muscle forced him home early and he disappeared from the international scene the following summer.

Udal remained a consistent performer in county cricket and, when his chance of more international honours seemed to have disappeared, he was a surprise selection for England's 2005 tour of Pakistan, after lifting the C&G Trophy earlier that summer as stand-in Hampshire skipper in the Lord's final.

He made his Test debut at the age of 36 in the series opener in Multan and played in all three matches as England lost 2-0.

Udal missed out on the selection for the first two Tests of the tour of India the following year but was recalled for the third game in Mumbai and took 4-14 on the final afternoon to help England force victory and claim a 1-1 series draw.

He retired from first-class cricket at the end of 2007 but was coaxed back into action by Middlesex, where he was named captain in 2008, guiding the county to the Twenty20 Cup in the same year.

Shaun leaves the game with a record to be very proud of Angus Fraser

Udal resigned the captaincy in June of this year and has now called time on a career that included 301 first-class games and 470 limited-overs matches.

In all, Udal took 822 first-class wickets at an average of 32.47 and scored 7,931 runs at 22.59.

"When Shaun took over as Middlesex captain he inherited a fractured dressing room and morale was low," said Middlesex director or cricket Angus Fraser.

"He successfully pulled the team closer together and the dressing room is now a far happier and united place.

"Shaun leaves the game with a record to be very proud of. He represented his country and won domestic silverware with the two clubs he played for, and that is what playing sport at the highest level is all about."

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