Former England captain Mike Atherton yesterday put an end to speculation regarding his future when he announced his retirement from both international and first-class cricket at the end of this season.

The 33-year-old Lancashire batsman made the last of his 115 Test appearances at The Oval in the crushing fifth Test defeat against Australia on Monday.

In a statement, Atherton, who captained England a record 54 times, said: "The Oval Test match was my last for England and I now intend to fufill my commitments with Lancashire before retiring from cricket at the end of the current season."

England chairman of selectors David Graveney praised Atherton for his bravery, having played for much of his career with back problems.

"He'll be a big loss in terms of what he produces on the pitch, and also what he brings to the dressing room.

"He's that sort of rock that people lean against, he's brought a number of young opening batsmen into the rigours of Test Match cricket - and it is a shock, particularly at the top of the order.

"And he's always been regarded as the wicket everybody wants to get. He'll be badly missed and I just thank him for all the help that he's given me."

Atherton's Test average settled at around 37, which does not reflect his true value to the side, something not lost on Graveney.

"The wickets we now play on in this country, opening the batting is a difficult job.

"Figures are one thing; the person I've worked with in England and played against is an entirely different person, and he's made a huge contribution to English cricket."

Perhaps Atherton's finest hour came against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1995 when he hit 185 not out in what was described by then England manager Raymond Illingworth as "one of the great Test innings".

He defied the might of South Africa's attack for 645 minutes to save the Test. It was the fourth longest England innings in history and included 28 boundaries.

He shared a 119-run sixth wicket partnership with Jack Russell and was so tired by his efforts that he slept through most of the following day, although that could also have had a little bit to do with taking on drink for drink legendary allrounder turned pundit Ian Botham in a Johannesburg bar.

Chasing an improbable 247 for victory to level the series in the fourth Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge three years later, Atherton produced one of the most courageous and compelling innings of his career to steer England to an eight-wicket victory.

Atherton has not always endeared himeself to the public as he showed with the "dirt in the pocket'" affair in July 1994.

Television pictures of Atherton apparently tampering with the ball during the Lord's Test against South Africa would probably be regarded as the lowpoint of his career.

His explanation that he was "drying the ball" led to two separate fines from match referee Peter Burge, but he resisted calls for hisresignation over the incident, scored 99 in the next Test at Headingley and led England to a series-levelling victory at the Oval.