Cricket: McCallum to retire from Saltires

The Grange club star, 33, will go into this weekend's double-header also featuring Leicestershire tomorrow having played 133 matches for Scotland over 11 years. In late 2009 , he was nominated for the ICC Associate Nations' cricketer of the year award.

McCallum averaged over 44 from 14 first-class games, including a highest score of 181 against Holland in 2007, the third equal highest ever score for Scotland in first-class cricket.

That was one of seven hundreds for Scotland, placing him second equal on the all-time list behind Iain Philip. Two of these hundreds were scored in McCallum's 43 One Day International's, more matches than any other Scotsman. In his ODI debut, McCallum scored 68 against Pakistan at the Citylets Grange.

A PE teacher at George Watson's College, he said: "It has not been an easy decision to retire but I believe the time is right. Representing Scotland has been an honour and I have been extremely fortunate to play at some of the world's best grounds, against some of the world's finest players and also to play in three memorable World Cups. These days Scotland are training and competing all year round. It was becoming harder to dedicate the correct amount of time to perform and train at an International level. I have been trying to juggle work and family on top of school, club and regional cricket, as well as the demands of training and competing at the elite level.

"A special thanks must go to my family who have followed my progress and to my wife Philippa who has been a huge support over the last four years."