Former Proteas batsman Jacques Rudolph has announced he will retire from all forms of cricket at the end of the county season.

Rudolph played 48 Tests for South Africa, scoring 2 622 runs (11 fifties, six hundreds) at an average of 35.43, with 222 not out against Bangladesh his highest score. He also represented South Africa on 45 occasions in ODIs, scoring 1 174 runs at an average 35.57 and a top score of 81.

For the past four seasons, Rudolph has plied his trade for county side Glamorgan. Earlier this season he reached the magical 10 000-run mark in List A cricket.

‘The time feels right to call an end to my playing career,’ Rudolph told Glamorgan’s website.

‘I have been incredibly fortunate to have enjoyed playing the game I love for the last twenty years, but at the end of this summer, it will be time to focus on a new venture away from cricket and spend more time with my young family,’ he added.

Glamorgan’s Ceo Hugh Morris thanked Rudolph for his contribution to the club.

‘Jacques has enjoyed an outstanding career at international level as well as in domestic cricket, and beyond his talents with the bat, his contribution has been significant as a leader who has been a pleasure to work with,’ Morris said.

Rudolph has stepped down as captain of the County Championship side with immediate effect, but will remain as captain of the T20 Blast team until the end of the season.

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