The eccentric Gloucestershire star, renowned for his trademark floppy hat, idiosyncratic batting style and his off-field skill with the paint brush, said his exclusion from England's Ashes tour had clinched his decision.

'The time was right to call it a day' - Russell speaks to Radio 5 Live

Russell, who played 54 Tests and 40 one-day internationals, announced his retirement at a news conference in Bangladesh.

The 35-year-old played his last match for England in the Wills International Cup 50-over defeat by South Africa in Dhaka on Sunday.

But he insisted he will continue to play county cricket for Gloucesterhire.

Russell shows off his artistic skills in a break on tour in Guyana

Russell's place in the Test side was often sacrificed due to the team's failure to find a world class all-rounder to replace Ian Botham, with the selectors instead playing an extra bowler or batsman.

Skipper Alec Stewart is now established as England's No.1 wicketkeeper and Lancashire's Warren was selected as his deputy for the tour of Australia, with Russell relegated to a place in the one-day side for the Bangladesh tournament.

End of the line for a true eccentric

The highlight of an illustrious career came in South Africa in December 1995 when he broke the world record for catches taken in a single match.

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He scored two Test centuries, but his batting will be chiefly remembered for his remarkable rearguard action alongside Michael Atherton when they saved a Test in Johannesburg from a seemingly desperate position.

Russell, who made his international debut in Pakistan in 1987, will concentrate on his artwork, which is becoming increasingly popular in cricket circles.

He said: "I've had 11 years of international cricket and there comes a time in your life where you have to move on.

"It has been a brilliant time. I started in Peshawar and ended in Dhaka and I have been to every stop in between.

Russell has been wearing the same hat since 1981

"Touring gets harder and harder and I had made my mind up that the Ashes trip was going to be the last tour for me if I made the party.

"When that didn't happen it made it seem now was the right time to move on and do other things.

"I am a perfectionist and I am never totally satisfied with anything, but I can put my hand on my heart and say I have given it everything I have got.

"I've been lucky enough to play in 54 Test matches and, for a grubby-haired little schoolboy from a council house in Stroud, I can't complain."

'Sad day' for Stewart

England captain Stewart, whose emergence as a world-class wicketkeeper-batsman hastened Russell's retirement, said Russell had helped with his own keeping.

"I've always said that he is the world's best and has certainly been England's best in recent times," said Stewart, "but he has made his decision and you have to respect that.

"He is someone I have always looked up to and learned from and it's a very sad day, but it's good that he's finished at the top.

"We are very close friends and if I was not keeping wicket he would probably still be playing.