Sydney: England batsman Paul Collingwood will retire from Test cricket after the final Sydney Ashes Test against Australia, the team said on Thursday.

A team spokesman said Collingwood, 34, would remain as England's Twenty20 captain and play for England's one-day team.

Collingwood's retirement from Tests comes in the midst of a poor Ashes series, scoring just 83 runs from six innings at the number five batting position.

Collingwood made his Test debut in 2003 against Sri Lanka at Galle and has earned 68 caps.

Collingwood struggled to 13 in England's first innings before lofting Michael Beer to mid-on, but even though the runs haven't come he has played a role in the team's Ashes success with his impressive catching at slip and useful medium pace.

In Australia's first innings he bowled Mike Hussey with what could prove his final ball in Test cricket.