Steve Harmison retires from professional cricket

Former England quick bowler Steve Harmison has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket at the age of 34.

The tall paceman spent his entire 17-year professional career at Durham, but did not play a single first-class game this season as they won the County Championship.

His contract at Chester-le-Street has now expired and Harmison has decided to follow other members of the 2005 Ashes-winning seam attack, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones, in hanging up his boots this year, although the latter will be available for Twenty20 cricket next season.

Harmison took 222 wickets in 62 Tests for England at an average of 31.94 after making his debut against India at Trent Bridge in 2002, and also played in 58 one-day internationals and two T20 internationals.