LONDON, (Reuters) – Former England batsman Mark  Butcher has announced his retirement with immediate effect,  Surrey County Cricket Club said yesterday.

Butcher, who played in 71 tests, has been struggling with a  knee injury since last year and has already undergone three  operations.

“It was a very tough decision to walk away from the club  that I have called home since I was a boy and the game that has  given me so many great memories but I feel that it is the right  time to move onto the next chapter in my life,” the 36-year-old  Butcher, who scored 17,870 first-class runs said on Surrey’s  website (www.britoval.com).

Butcher averaged a fairly modest 34 in test matches but will  always be remembered for a breathtaking innings of 173 not out  that gave England victory in the fourth Ashes Test against  Australia in 2001.