Warwickshire bowler Heath Streak has announced his retirement from county cricket at the end of this season.

The 33-year-old Zimbabwean resigned the captaincy of the county after one match this season and has now said a desire to spend more time with his family is behind his retirement.

Streak, who joined Warwickshire in 2004, said: ‘It has been a difficult decision to call time on my career here in England. Edgbaston is a special place to play and I am proud to have been able to call myself a Bear.

"I still intend to maintain an involvement in cricket in some capacity whilst travelling less and spending more time with my family. I am determined to finish the season strongly myself and I hope that the team can put together some good performances to see me off in style.’

Heath played 65 Test Matches and 189 One Day Internationals for Zimbabwe and captained the side for two years. He also captained Warwickshire during 2005 and 2006. In all he has taken 102 wickets and scored 1130 runs in his career with the Bears.

Warwickshire Chief Executive, Colin Povey said: ‘Streaky has been a magnificent ambassador for the game of cricket and he has always given his all for the club. It has been a privilege to work with him and everyone at Edgbaston wishes him, Nadine and their family all the very best for the future.’

* WIcketkeeper Tim Ambrose has been awarded the Warwickshire captaincy for the remainder of the season while Darren Maddy heads off to South Africa for the Twenty20 World Cup.