Former England captain Nasser Hussain announced he is retiring from the game, three days after scoring a match-winning century against New Zealand.

Special A hosanna for Hussain

"Age has been catching up on me a little bit - the body, the mind, the fire in the stomach and the eyes a little bit have started to deteriorate," the 36-year-old told a news conference on Thursday.

Saying he would retire from all forms of cricket, Hussain said: "It has been a major decision for me and not one that I have taken lightly, nor have I taken it in the last few days.

"It is a gradual thing that has happened over months. I wasn't willing to fight against youth - I mean youth in the form of Andrew Strauss."

Hussain, who plays for Essex, scored 103 not out at Lord's on Monday as England won the first of three Tests against the New Zealanders by seven wickets.

He also ran out man-of-the match Strauss, one of the main challengers for Hussain's team place, just when he seemed set to score a century in both innings of his debut.

Hussain said pride played a part in his decision as he did not want to be tapped on the shoulder one day by the selectors and told he was dropped.

Hussain played 96 Tests, averaging 37.18 and scoring 14 centuries. A right-handed batsman, he also played 88 one-dayers, averaging 30.28, but retired from the shorter game after the 2003 World Cup.