Rudolph leaves Yorkshire

Former Test star Rudolph, 29, has been at Headingley Carnegie for four seasons since joining as a Kolpak player in 2007.

He has excelled with the bat in every format of the game and has scored more than 1,000 first class runs every season while amassing an impressive total of 8,629 runs in all competitions for the White Rose.

A club statement read: "Whilst Jacques has thoroughly enjoyed his time with Yorkshire CCC, he and his wife Elna have found it difficult adjusting to life in England.

"Jacques has spent each winter with his family in South Africa and whilst his wife Elna moved to Leeds in an attempt to find suitable employment as a doctor, nevertheless this has not worked out as they both would have liked.

"They are both very keen to start a family and, with an unsettled lifestyle, felt it was impossible to put down roots and make plans for the future.

"As such, they formally requested to be released from the final year of Jacques's contract and the Board of Directors have granted this wish.

"The Club wishes Jacques every success in the future. He had become a hugely respected and popular member of the team.

"He and Elna will be missed by everyone involved with Yorkshire CCC. However, it was a unanimous Board decision in support of his request to put his family first and return home to South Africa."