Australian batsman Michael Hussey has announced his retirement from Test cricket.

The final match of the series against Sri Lanka, which gets underway at the Sydney Cricket Ground, will be Hussey's 79th and final Test.

He will, however, remain available for the country's T20I and ODIs sides - and Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers in the Sheffield Shield and Big Bash League respectively.

"I was quite excited to tell my family that I'm not going to go away and play for Australia anymore. They were happy but not as excited as I thought they were going to be, so it was a bit of a shock," Hussey told Channel Nine.

"One thing about playing for Australia is, it's always a lot of stress and a lot of pressure to perform and I feel like I'll come into this Test match, in Sydney, with no pressure whatsoever, just go out there and enjoy it."

The 37-year-old's sudden retirement has left Australia without two veterans ahead of tours of India and back-to-back Ashes series, after former captain Ricky Ponting drew the curtain on his prolific career at the end of the series against South Africa earlier this month.

"Affectionately known as 'Mr Cricket', he has always been thoroughly committed to meticulous preparation and the highest levels of physical fitness which have in turn delivered consistent performances in all forms of the game," added Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland.

"An incredibly reliable player and leader within the Australian cricket team, Michael will retire from Test cricket with a record that puts him amongst the very best Australian batsmen of all time. Beyond his contributions to team success, he will be remembered for the way he has carried himself on and off the field."

The left-handed Hussey, who debuted in 2005, has amassed 6183 runs in 78 Tests at the impressive average of 51.52, including 19 centuries - and a highest score of 195 against England in Brisbane in 2010.

He is one of seven Australian batsman, including Don Bradman, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Doug Walters, Neil Harvey and Michael Clarke, to reach the benchmark of 900 points in the ICC player rankings for Test batsmen.

"Michael has had a fine career - he has been a great player, a great team player and has always been a great person, on and off the field. To debut as a Test cricketer at 30 and to go on and achieve what he has done has been absolutely terrific," concluded CA chairman Wally Edwards.