India's Ravichandran Ashwin announces retirement from all international cricket

Spinner retires with 537 wickets from 106 Tests, the second highest of any Indian bowler behind Anil Kumble's 619

Ravichandran Ashwin took one wicket in India's 10-wicket defeat to Australia in Adelaide, a match that has proved to be his last in Test cricket. Getty Images

India's spin spearhead Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Test against Australia finished in a draw in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Ashwin retires with 537 wickets from 106 Tests, the second highest of any Indian bowler behind Anil Kumble's 619.

"This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats in the international level," Ashwin, 38, told reporters at the Gabba.

"I do feel there's a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to ... showcase that in club level cricket.

"I had a lot of fun. I must say, I created a lot of memories alongside Rohit [Sharma] and several of my other teammates," he added with the India captain by his side.

Ashwin was not selected for the series-opener in Perth but returned to the side for the day-night second Test in Adelaide, where he took one wicket in India's 10-wicket loss. That match would prove to be his final Test after he was left out of the side for Brisbane.

Rohit said Ashwin had decided to call it a day during the Perth Test but he had persuaded him to stay on for Adelaide.

However, he decided during this Test that his time as an international cricketer was over.

"As a team we have to respect that decision," Rohit said. "He was very sure about what he wanted to do and the team has complete backing of his thought process.

"He's had so many big moments with the Indian team and he's been a big match-winner for us.

"He's allowed to make these decisions, and if it is now, so be it."

Australian captain Pat Cummins said Ashwin had been a fierce competitor.

"He's obviously been a fantastic player all around the world – there aren't that many finger spinners that have that kind of longevity," Cummins said.

"He'll go down as one of the all-time greats.

"There's a massive respect from our change room for the career that he's had."

Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies and was also handy with the bat, scoring 3,503 runs with six centuries and 14 fifties.

He has also played 116 one-dayers and 65 Twenty20 Internationals, finishing with 765 wickets across formats.