Brett Lee announced his retirement on international cricket

Australian pace bowler Brett Lee on Friday announced his retirement from international cricket after a 13-year career, saying his body were no longer up to the stresses of touring.

The 35-year-old said a calf muscle strain that forced him home from Australia's recent ODI tour to Britain was the final straw after a string of setbacks caused by injuries. I woke up this morning and just like I was ready, Lee said, adding his original plan had been to play at September's World Twenty20 series in Sri Lanka as his international swansong.

I think personally in a team environment you have to have 100 percent commitment -- mentally and physically, he told a press meeting at the Sydney Cricket Ground. And I deduction looking at the next few months I just didn't have that desire any more. It wouldn't be fair on me, or my team if I went with that approach... you gets to the point in life where you say enough is enough.

Lee said he would continue to play the less difficult Twenty20 cricket in the IPL and the Australian BBL. Lee’s calf injury was the latest in a long line of injuries that punctuate his playing career, of 310 Test wickets at 30.81 from 76 matches and 380 ODI wickets at 23.36 from 221 matches.

He also endured side strains, a broken toe, ankle issues, and stress fracture to his back, persistent elbow problems and appendicitis. Lee was not obtainable a national contract in Cricket Australia's latest round of agreements, and decided not to take up a deal with his state side, New South Wales, for this coming summer.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland paid tribute to Lee's payment to Australian cricket and as a motivation to youngsters to take up the game. His record as a wicket-taker and leader of the attack is extraordinary and speaks for itself but his resilience and ability to bounce back after many injuries has also been impressive," Sutherland said.

On top of this, and this is an important part of his legacy, Brett inspired young Australians to play cricket and bowl fast. Lee also became very popular in cricket-mad India where he wrote and recorded the song you’re the One for Me, which reached number 2 on the Indian charts and led to a role in his 1st Bollywood movie Victory.

Lee said while he had enjoyed his cricket career, he was tired of being away from home for long period and was looking forward to a dissimilar phase of his life. It’s been an extraordinary career and I've loved all minute of it, but its stage two of my life now, he said. My holiday will be at home -- I'm sick of life form away. That was on my mind as well -- time away from home.

I just want to maybe do some fish and just chill out for a few months.

Lee retired from Tests in February 2010 as Australia's 4th-highest Test wicket-taker but played on in ODI and Twenty20 cricket up until Friday's announcement.