Ryan Sidebottom has confirmed his retirement from international cricket.

Sidebottom was a key member of the Nottinghamshire squad that secured the LV= County Championship last week but has now definitively confirmed that he will be joining a new county for the 2011 campaign and will also pursue an Indian Premier League contract.

"I have had a truly fantastic time with England but now it is time to hand over the ball to those a little younger,” he said.

"It has been a fantastic time but I have no doubts that now is the right time to announce my retirement."

"I have been fortunate enough to live the dream and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped me so much throughout my career.

"It has been a fantastic time but I have no doubts that now is the right time to announce my retirement."

In the past four years, Sidebottom established himself firmly on the international scene - enjoying success with England in Test and one-day cricket.

He secured a Test hat-trick and returned career-best figures of 7-47 against New Zealand in 2008 and was a key member of the England team that won the ICC World Twenty20 earlier this year.

His final contribution to the Nottinghamshire cause was to guide the side beyond 400 runs in an unbeaten tenth wicket partnership with Darren Pattinson to secure a crucial bonus point.

He then claimed the wicket of Karl Brown to help Nottinghamshire to claim the three wickets they needed to win the LV= County Championship for the first time since 2005.