FORMER South Africa batsman Jacques Rudolph will retire at the end of the season and has stepped down as Glamorgan's captain in the County Championship with immediate effect.

The 36-year-old will be replaced as skipper in red-ball cricket by Australian seamer Michael Hogan for the rest of the campaign while continuing to call the shots in the NatWest T20 Blast.

Rudolph, who previously had spells with Yorkshire and Surrey, joined Glamorgan in 2014 and took the reins in 2016.

The left-hander made 48 Test appearances, played 45 one-day internationals and made one T20 international appearance for South Africa.

"The time feels right to call an end to my playing career," said Rudolph. "I have been incredibly fortunate to have enjoyed playing the game I love for the last 20 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."

"The last four years at Glamorgan have been special and I've enjoyed playing for the club along with developing a spirit and culture with (head coach) Robert Croft and (chief executive) Hugh Morris that I believe will help the club in years to come.

"I still want to help Glamorgan achieve success on the field this season and finish my time with the club, and end my career, on a high."

At the end of his first season in Wales Rudolph broke Viv Richards' Glamorgan record one-day individual score record by scoring 169 not out from 150 balls against Sussex at Hove.

However, he has failed to thrive in first-class cricket and is currently averaging 22 from eight innings in 2017.

"It has been mentally tough, opening the batting and leading the team in all formats, and I will now be able to concentrate more on my batting," he said.

Morris paid tribute to the role that the experienced South African has played in helping the next generation of local talent.

He said: "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.

"The significance of the role that Jacques has played in our dressing room over the last four years, in setting an example and being a role model to the young Welsh players we are bringing through has been substantial."

Hogan, who is in his fifth year with the club, had taken 227 wickets at an average of 23 before this season and will lead from the front against Durham in Swansea in a four-day game that starts tomorrow (FRI).