Ashes star Brett Lee ‘loses desire’ for international cricket

p68 main SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 13: Australian cricketer Brett Lee addresses media representatives at a press conference to announce his retirement from International Cricket at the SCG on July 13, 2012 in Sydney, Australia.

13 July 2012

Brett Lee today revealed he had lost the desire to compete at the highest level as he retires from international cricket.

The 35-year-old flew home early from England after damaging his calf in the fourth one dayer at Durham and, though he had been hopeful of playing in the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, the paceman has had enough.

“The last two or three nights I thought about it a lot,” Lee said. “I woke up this morning and just felt like I was ready. I guess looking at the next few months I just didn’t have that desire any more.”

Lee, popular with English fans for his sporting style, will still play domestic cricket and in the Indian Premier League.