Former England captain Kevin Pietersen, one of cricket’s most flamboyant and controversial figures, has announced that he will retire from cricket later this year.

The 37 year old Pietersen, revealed his decision after taking part in the Melbourne Stars’ in the Australian Big Bash T/20 Cricket League defeat against the Renegades in the Melbourne derby today stating that he expects to call a complete halt to his playing career by the end of the year.

Pietersen said he would honour playing commitments with the Pakistan Super League and a T/20 tournament in his native South Africa next summer, but would be done by late 2018.

England’s fifth highest test run scorer (8181 runs), Pietersen played the last of his 104 tests in the ashes whitewash four years ago, after which he was cut loose by national selectors.