Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson retires from all form of cricket. The announcement came on Sunday when the pacer spoke to an Australian channel and also pacer took to social media and informed his fans about the decision made. Johnson decided to hang up his boots because his body, ‘started to shut down’. The decision comes three years after he bid adieu to International cricket.

The 36-year-old pacer had retired from Big Bash Premier League but was still playing the IPL. It's over. I've bowled my final ball. Taken my final wicket. Today I announce my retirement from all forms of cricket," Johnson wrote for the Perth Now news website on Sunday. "I had hoped to continue playing in various Twenty20 competitions around the world until perhaps the middle of next year. But the fact is my body is starting to shut down. The Australian pacer said that he experienced back problems during this year's IPL and "that was probably a sign that it was time to move on".

"I'm ready to break clear of playing cricket and move on to the next period of my life," he added. “If I can't play at 100 per cent then I can't give my best to the team. And for me it's always been about the team,” he wrote on a concluding note.

His social media post read, “It’s time to move on from this game I enjoyed playing for many years. Thank you to my wife Jessica and our two amazing children Rubika and Leo for all the support they gave me which meant the world to me. To my family and friends, I thank you for being part of my journey. It has meant a lot to me. To all my teammates from Perth to India, it’s been great fun and I will miss the change room banter. And to all the fans/supporters who have been behind me, I will miss the buzz of game day and cheers of when wickets fell. I hope to one day give back to the game in some way. Thanks for the memories 🏏”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 19, 2018 05:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).