South Africa batter Lizelle Lee has retired from the international game three days before the start of a one-day series against England.
The 30-year-old was in the South Africa squad preparing to face England in a three-match series beginning on Monday.
Lee, her country’s all-time leading Twenty20 run-scorer, will still play in domestic competitions around the world.
“From a young age, I have lived cricket and wanted to represent my country at the highest level,” she said.
“Over the past eight years I was able to live that dream and I feel I have given everything I could to the Proteas.”
Only the recently retired Mignon du Preez has scored more ODI runs than Lee, and Cricket South Africa director of cricket Enoch Nkwe said: “It is with great sadness we have to bid farewell to a titan of South African cricket at a relatively young age, however we wholeheartedly respect the individual’s decision.
“We wish her and her young family nothing but the best from here onwards.”
