All good things come to an end Clare Taylor

"Looking around at the current squad, there are many promising youngsters coming through," said Taylor.

"I therefore feel that now is a good time to go, leaving the game on a high, having just won the Ashes for the first time in 42 years.

The 40-year-old played 16 Tests and 105 one-day matches during her career, taking more than 100 wickets.

She also took part in five World Cups and picked up a winner's medal at Lord's in 1993 - the last time England won the trophy.

Taylor, from Yorkshire, also played at the 1995 football World Cup - a dual achievement matched only by Rudi van Vuuren, who has done so in cricket and rugby union for Namibia.

Five years ago she was awarded an MBE and has also received an honorary masters degree for services to sport.

She is the second senior member of the England team to retire this year, with former new ball partner Lucy Pearson stepping down following the World Cup in South Africa to concentrate on her teaching career.

Writing for ecb.co.uk, she said: "Finally the hard work is paying off and England have a dynamic talented and young squad that should be around and together for a while and will I?m sure go from strength to strength.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed the last 17 years - with all the highs and lows and wish everyone involved in the women?s game every success in the future."