Graeme Swann has revealed that he made the decision to retire from international cricket during England's third Test match against Australia in Perth.

The tourists suffered their third successive defeat in the ongoing Ashes series to relinquish the urn.

"Halfway through that Perth game I made the decision," the ECB's Twitter page quotes the 34-year-old as saying. "My arm doesn't cope with long innings anymore."

"I hope my legacy is someone who always has a smile on his face," he added. "Since I got back in the team, I've treated everyday like a lottery win"

Swann has also explained his decision further on the ECB's official website.

"After a great deal of consideration I have decided to call it a day on my international and first-class career," he said. "This decision has been very difficult seeing as the England team has been my family for seven years now, but I feel that now is the right time to step down.

"I don't regret a single day of my career. Every high has been celebrated with verve and vigour and every low painfully accepted as a chance to learn and improve.

"My personal highlights include the three Ashes victories, of which I will cherish for the rest of my life, and the World T20 victory in the West Indies which ranks as my limited overs highlight. "

Swann played 60 Tests and 79 one-day internationals for England.