Kevin Pietersen retires from cricket aged 37 after glittering, often controversial 20-year career in the sport

KEVIN PIETERSEN has announced his retirement from cricket aged 37 after a glittering, often controversial 20-year career.

The former England star took to social media to reveal he was hanging up his bat after over 30,000 runs and 68 centuries.

KP was a key figure in England's famous 2005 Ashes squad as well as helping his country win the 2010 World Twenty20.

But on Friday night he somewhat cryptically tweeted: "BOOTS UP! Thank you!"

He followed that up in the early hours of Saturday morning with: "Boots up! Feet up! Family, animals, golf...! HOME!"

Three hours later, Pietersen went on to say: "Just been told that I scored 30000+ runs which included 152 fifty’s & 68 hundreds in my professional career.

"Time to move on!"

Pietersen was widely expected to retire having announced the latest edition of the Big Bash League in Australia would be his last.

Over the years, KP had also retired from both Test and 50-over formats of the game to focus solely on the lucrative world of short-term Twenty20 cricket contracts, such as the IPL.

Pietersen kicked-off his career at South African side Natal, but grew frustrated with his role as off-spin bowler and lower-order big-hitter.

He moved to England to play club cricket at Cannock CC, before attracting the attention of Nottinghamshire.

KP's blistering ability with the bat quickly caught the attention of England too and he made his ODI debut in 2004.

Back on "home turf" in South Africa, Pietersen blasted a sensational century in hostile atmosphere - as England quickly realised they had a real talent on their hands.

KP then took Graham Thorpe's spot at No5 for the 2005 Ashes series against Australia - arguably the most riveting Test series of all-time.

As England rolled-over in the First Test at Lord's, only KP showed any resistance with the bat notching a 50 in each innings, displaying a wide array of attacking, never-before-seen shots, including The Flamingo.

Pietersen was also the first batsman to ever perform the "switch hit" after blasting a six with his left-hand against New Zealand.

KP went on to play a starring role in the 2005 series - including a vital 158 in the Fifth Test - as England ran out 2-1 winners to reclaim the Ashes for the first time since 1986-87.

Pietersen was also the series' top run scorer in a field including the likes of Michael Vaughan, Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden.

KP went on to be named England captain in 2008, replacing Vaughan, before 2009 brought with it a whole host of controversy - as he quit his post after a rift with then-head coach Peter Moores.

He also signed his first IPL contract that year - then the most expensive of all time, after being bought £1million by Royal Challengers Bangalore.

But KP managed to help England to their most famous one-day feat ever, as they won the World T20 tournament in the Caribbean.

In 2012 though, things started to turn for the worse again, as, after stroking a superb 149 against South Africa on the Test stage, he quipped “it’s not easy being me” in a press conference.

It was in that series it was revealed he sent insulting text messages about skipper Andrew Strauss to South African players.

He was subsequently dropped and cast into the wilderness — prompting KP to release a grovelling YouTube video declaring his availability in ALL formats of the game for England.

He was not selected for the World T20 in October but was “successfully reintegrated” to the five-day set-up against India next month where he made a glorious 186 on a raging turner as England ran out 2-1 winners.

Indifferent form and worries over his attitude saw KP cut from the England set-up for good, as managing director Paul Downton drew a line under his international career in order to “start the rebuilding process”.

Pietersen signed for Surrey where he later scored a simply outrageous 355 not out against Leicestershire.

Later that evening, he was flat-out told by new director of cricket Andrew Strauss that he would NEVER play for England again due to “trust issues.”

KP revealed he was “angry and hurt” at England’s “deceit”.

Soon after, Pietersen quit England, quit Test cricket, quit 50-over cricket and absolutely dominated the world of T20.

He now bids the sport farewell, with one of cricket's most colourful, exciting characters to ever play the game hanging up his bat.