Clare Taylor retires from international cricket

Clare Taylor has called time on her international career after 17 eventful years. Taylor, 40, bows out on a high following the England team's Ashes success.

"All good things come to an end," said Taylor. "For me it was a case of having a couple of injuries that were hard to shake off," she added.

Popularly called "Romper", she is a medium-pace bowler who played 16 Tests and 105 ODIs since 1988. In a career of many highlights - she was made a Member of the British Empire in 2000 for services to cricket, and became the first woman to take 100 ODI wickets - her outstanding moment was winning the World Cup in 1993.

She is a talented footballer too, having represented Liverpool Ladies and playing in the football World Cup.

Her county side is Yorkshire. She has revealed that she will continue playing cricket, as well as coach, when she goes to New Zealand this November to pitch in for the Otago Sparks.

She believes her decision to retire now has come at exactly the right time."Looking around at the current squad, there are many promising youngsters coming through," she added, "with the likes of Katherine Brunt, Isa Guha and Arran Brindle. 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."