Australian fast bowler Brett Lee announced his retirement from international cricket on Friday. Thanking all for their love and support, the paceman said that it had been an amazing 13 years for him. "It's official. I have retired from international cricket! Thanks for all your love and support. It's been an amazing 13 years," Lee said in his twitter account on Friday.

‘‘It has been a dream career, I guess, 13 years at the top. I couldn’t ask for much more,’’ Lee said to Channel Nine news earlier in the day, adding, "Thirteen years, Friday the 13th, it's appropriate for me to go. I woke up this morning after not much sleep and it’s the right time to go. It just came to me this morning and I just felt it’s the right time to leave the game. It’s been in the back of my mind for a few months.”

Lee’s international career included 76 Tests, 221 ODIs and 25 T20 internationals. He leaves international cricket as the second highest ODI wicket-taker for Australia behind Glenn McGrath (seventh all-time) and one of only four Australians to take more than 300 Test wickets. Lee has also retired from one-day domestic cricket but will still continue to play in the KFC T20 Big Bash League as well as the Indian Premier League.

According to http://www.cricket.com.au, National Selector John Inverarity said: “Today one of Australia’s most outstanding fast bowlers announced his retirement. Brett Lee’s record speaks for itself. He first represented Australia as an exciting fast bowler in the Boxing Day Test in 1999 and played his last match played for Australia on 7 July this year. In that period he captured 310 Test wickets (fourth on the all-time list) and 380 ODI wickets, second only to Glenn McGrath. Including T20s Brett took 738 international wickets and on numerous occasions had an impact with the bat, always in an entertaining manner. The statistics only tell part of the story. Brett has been an absolute ornament to the game; a fine player, a fierce and brave competitor, a generous opponent and one who always upheld the highest standards of sportsmanship. He has been a cricketer in every sense of the word.”

Meanwhile Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland paid tribute to Lee’s contribution to Australian cricket as both a wicket-taker and as an inspiration to kids to take up the game. “His record as a wicket-taker and leader of the attack is fantastic and speaks for itself but his resilience and ability to bounce back after numerous injuries has also been impressive,” he said.

“On top of this, and this is a significant part of his legacy, Brett inspired young Australians to play cricket and bowl fast”.

The international cricketing world salutes Brett Lee, thanks him for his wonderful contribution to the game and wishes him well for the future. His ready and defining smile will be missed.