YORKSHIRE have released former Australian Test player Phil Jaques after opting not to renew his contract ahead of 2014.

The 34-year-old has already returned home to Sydney having scored 88 in what could prove to be his last firstclass match against Surrey at the Oval last week.

The versatile top order batsman has spent the last two years playing at Headingley on a UK passport courtesy of both his parents being born in England.

The decision was not entirely Yorkshire’s, with the player keen to pursue a career in coaching as well as a more settled home life with a young family Down Under.

He spent last winter as player-coach of his home club Sutherland in Sydney grade cricket and as an assistant coach for the Twenty20 Big Bash League franchise Sydney Thunder, who Chris Gayle and Matt Prior played for.

He will be involved in a similar with role with the former again this winter.

In the last two seasons, lefthanded Jaques has scored 1,562 runs from 29 County Championship matches at an average of 40.05, including seven 50s and four 100s.

“He’s been a great asset to the club during the two spells that he had with us,” said director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon.

“He’s been invaluable not only on the field, but off it as well with our younger players.

That was one of the reasons we brought him back – to help with our young batsmen in particular.

“Phil talked about batting and passed on his experience, and the lads picked up bits here and there from him.

“He talked to us about what he saw technically and whether things needed to change, and I think he fed off us as well with regards to his future career.”

This was Jaques’s second spell with Yorkshire after two seasons as an overseas player in 2004 and 2005.

In all, he scored 4,039 runs from 53 Championship matches for them at 51.12.

Jaques will oversee the development of young White Rose batsman Jack Leaning, who will be spending the winter with Sutherland. Leaning enjoyed a successful summer in club and county second XI cricket, and made his firstteam Championship and Twenty20 debuts.

“It’s nice to have that connection in Sydney for our young players to get some experience playing over there,”

added Moxon.

“I don’t think Phil’s completely given up on the thought of playing, but he doesn’t want to come back to England for a full season.’’