Left-arm chinaman bowler Brad Hogg announced on Wednesday evening that he won't be playing international cricket beyond the current Australian summer, which will end next week with the finals of the triangular series.

Without elaborating, the 37-year-old Western Australian cited personal issues as the reason for his retirement, though he said he had been dwelling on calling it a day for the last one month.

"I have had a really bloody good run out and I am really happy with what I have achieved," said Hogg, who played just seven Tests since his debut in New Delhi in 1996. "I am going out on a high with my team-mates in my own country and that's the most important thing to me. It's been a fantastic experience. To represent your country and make a living doing something you love is a wonderful thing. I respect the game, I respect what it has given me."

Professing that retirement had been on his mind for a while now, Hogg added, "I thought about retiring after the World Cup, then Warney retired and I felt there was a chance of playing Test cricket again. My career started against India, and I thought if I could play Test cricket against India again, it would be fantastic.

"I was dropped after that first Test in India. I had to decide whether to go back to the farm, or persist with Test cricket. I said stuff it, I have been there once and I want to go there again." The wait lasted eight years. "It was just a great thrill to have a hard road to get back to Test cricket. When I played in '96, I did say I would never make it unless I played with Warney in an international match. We played two games together in 2003; that was probably the highlight of my career as a spinner — that I actually deserved that spot bowling alongside Warney."

Among the other highlights, said Hogg, was getting the baggy green cap. "One of the biggest highlights was watching Symonds make that hundred in the World Cup game against Pakistan in South Africa. He was not batting well at that time, and the emotion in the dressing room when he got to hundred was unbelievable. Bowling to Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, two of the best players in the world, and managing to get their wickets a couple of times is always a good feeling. One thing I would love to do is play against Australia and see how I go!"

On his journey with the Australian team, the soon-to-be-father-again Hogg remarked, "To play cricket alongside Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne -- what better life can I have? I just love that I have played alongside these guys. To be part of the group that won 16 straight Tests twice, and two World Cups where we didn't lose a game -- I am playing alongside legends.”