Former Hampshire captain Shaun Udal has announced his retirement from first-class cricket at the age of 41, bringing to an end a career spanning 22 seasons.

Off-spinner Udal, who played four Tests and 11 one-day internationals for England, first retired in 2007 but was tempted back to championship cricket by Middlesex.

The move reinvigorated the veteran, who was a key player in the club's Twenty20 Cup win in 2008 and he went on to become club captain at Lord's before handing the reigns to Neil Dexter this summer.

Udal's most memorable contribution in England colours came in 2006 when he returned four for 14, including the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar, to help level the series against India in Mumbai.

But he will mostly be remembered as a dedicated county professional who took 822 first-class wickets and scored over 11,000 runs across the formats during 19 seasons with Hampshire and three with Middlesex.

"I am extremely lucky to have played the game I love for such a long period of time. Cricket has been extremely good to me and I have enjoyed every moment I have spent in the game," he said.

"I have played with and against some great cricketers and characters, and treasure the moments I spent playing with and competing against these men. I have many good friends in cricket and hope to continue to enjoy their company.

"It is obviously a sad day - waving goodbye to something very special is always difficult - but I look forward to getting stuck in to the next chapter of my life."

Angus Fraser, Middlesex's director of cricket, added: "On behalf of everyone at Middlesex CCC I would like to thank Shaun for all the hard work and commitment he put in during his three years at the club.

"When Shaun took over as Middlesex captain he inherited a fractured dressing room and morale was low.

"During the two years he captained Middlesex Shaun successfully pulled the team closer together and the dressing room is now a far happier and united place.

"He has handed over to Neil Dexter a club in far better shape than the one he inherited."