MICHAEL Vaughan joked that being bowled out by his three-year-old son was enough to tell him it was the right time to retire from professional cricket.

The former England captain, 34, closed the curtain on a glittering career that stretches back almost 17 years in front of a packed press conference at Edgbaston.

Current Ashes squad members pay tribute to Michael Vaughan, who has retired from cricket

Vaughan, England’s most successful post-war Test captain, pointed to his stewardship of the 2005 Ashes triumph over Australia as the pinnacle of his time in the sport.

But having been overlooked for the training squad for the 2009 series, coupled with his recent omission from Yorkshire’s squad for a Twenty20 encounter, he feels the time is right to walk away.

And he insisted he would leave with no regrets.

Vaughan, with a clear lump in his throat but minus the tears of last August when he gave up the Test captaincy, said: ‘‘It’s been a hard decision, I don’t want this to be dejà vu from nine months ago, but you must understand it’s been difficult.

‘‘My decision came two weeks ago at Worcester.

“I just started to realise that there are younger players around the Yorkshire team, first and foremost, and certainly around the England team that need to be given the chance to move the game forward.

‘‘I’ve given it my best shot – seven or eight months ago I was thinking that I should step down before December, but I wanted to give it one last hard effort to try to get into the Ashes squad.

‘‘I haven’t been playing well enough, in some instances my body hasn’t been reacting the way I would like it to.

‘‘And I guess two weeks ago when in the garden with my little lad Archie, he bowled a ball, it hit a weed and it knocked my off stump out of the ground.

‘‘I think that was the time, if a three-year-old is bowling me out, then it’s time to move over.’’ He continued: ‘‘I know it’s the right decision, I always say in the dressing room that your senior players have to be the most enthusiastic.

‘‘I just had a feeling in the Yorkshire dressing room that I wasn’t passing on that enthusiasm.

‘‘I’d like to be remembered as someone who gave my all, I don’t think I’ve left anything out there, I have no regrets.’’ Vaughan, who ended his Test career with average of 41.44, played down rumours he is ready to move straight into the media, but refused to rule it out after he has taken a well-earned break.

He also dismissed any chance of an immediate return in a coaching or management role for England but, again, left his options open.

Vaughan did admit to spending an hour on the phone with Andrew Strauss yesterday morning discussing his decision.

And the current England captain was quick to pay a glowing tribute to his former leader.

‘‘It’s hard to speak highly enough about what he achieved as England captain, he really took England to a new level,’’ said Strauss.

‘‘He showed a huge amount of loyalty to me personally so I feel a huge amount of loyalty to him as a captain and as a friend.

‘‘But his achievements can’t be underestimated, taking the England team forward, the way he captained, the relaxed manner in which he was to get us playing, as well as the very positive outlook on how to play cricket.

‘‘He’s without doubt the best captain I’ve played under.

‘‘It’s a sad day that he’s not going to be playing any more.’’ Yorkshire and England teammate Matthew Hoggard paid tribute to his “wonderful”

colleague.

Both were at the forefront of England’s successful Ashes charge in 2005 and Hoggard was not surprised to see Vaughan announce his retirement after failing to make the squad for this year’s episode.

“There were little signs a couple of weeks ago,” said Hoggard.

“The things he was saying, you almost knew he would retire if he didn’t get in the Ashes side.

“Michael’s the sort of guy who wouldn’t want to play county cricket if he doesn’t have a chance of making the England team.

“He’s a lot of irons in the fire and unfortunately I don’t think his body is holding up as well as he’d like.’’ Vaughan was a hero to England fans but more specifically to those of Yorkshire and with the team struggling desperately to pick up wins in the County Championship his absence will leave a hole.

“We won’t miss his batting,”

joked Hoggard. “Michael’s got a lot of experience and know how and puts a lot of input into the younger players so he’ll be a loss.”