SYDNEY, June 12 (AP/UNB) - Former test opening batsman Simon Katich has retired from first-class cricket in Australia aged 36, formally ending his 56-test career.

Katich was contentiously axed from the Australian team after the 2010-2011 Ashes series and last year lost the captaincy of the New South Wales state side.

He is currently playing for Hampshire in the English county championship and will play for the Perth Scorchers in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in October.

In a statement released through Cricket Australia on Tuesday, Katich said he was retiring to give more time to his young family. He scored 4,188 runs in his 56 tests at an average of 45.03.