ENGLAND and Great Britain midfielder Jennie Bimson has retired from international hockey after winning 198 caps for England and Great Britain over 11 years.

Only injury prevented the 31-year-old midfielder from reaching the 200-cap milestone - a torn calf muscle in the 2-1 defeat of New Zealand in the pool stages of the Beijing Olympics forcing her early departure from the Games.

Bimson, from Stoke Heath, near Bromsgrove, played in three Commonwealth Games for England.

“I have lived the dream for the past 11 years in representing my country,” she said.

“I have been fortunate to play hockey across five continents and it has been an incredible journey for me.”