The 33-year-old, who hasn't played a senior match in 15 months, is returning to Zimbabwe to resume his career after figuring in the racism storm at Headingley
Gary Ballance is leaving Yorkshire after 15 years at the club.
The Cricketer understands the 33-year-old, who hasn't played first-team cricket since September 2021, is returning to live in his Zimbabwe homeland.
Ballance had a contract until 2024 but has asked to be released from the deal. He has agreed not to represent another County Championship side in 2023.
In a statement, the club says his departure comes amid "challenges he has faced to his mental health".
More recently, the former England Test batter was at the centre of the allegations of made by Azeem Rafiq.
Azeem Rafiq accused Ballance of racially abusing him across two spells at Yorkshire (Richard Sellers/Getty Images)
Rafiq accused Ballance of using racist language towards him across two spells at Headingley, charges which after accepting led to his indefinite suspension from England selection. He later apologised to Rafiq.
"On a personal level, I have gone through a challenging period – and after much discussion, I decided, together with my family, that it would be right to make a change," said Ballance. "I asked the club if it was willing to release me from my contract, and I am grateful for its understanding as we have reached an agreement.
"The support Yorkshire has given me off the pitch over the past year has been fantastic and I am appreciative of the Club’s help, but I hope that my decision will mean that my career can have a fresh start."
Since joining from Derbyshire in 2007 on academy terms, Ballance has been a dominant figure on the county circuit. He scored 8,507 first-class runs in 127 matches for Yorkshire, with a best of 203 not out against Hampshire.
He was part of two LV= Insurance County Championship title-winning sides in 2014 and 2015 as Yorkshire took their record tally to 32.
Ballance played 23 Tests and 15 ODIs for England (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
In white-ball cricket, he struck 4,582 runs in 164 List A and T20 matches.
In 2016, he was installed as club captain following Andrew Gale's retirement and pledged to "lead by example".
His domestic form saw him play 23 Tests and 16 ODIs for England between 2014 and 2017.
But appearances in recent years have been rare. After not featuring in the Covid-affected 2020 season, he played 10 County Championship matches in 2021 and nine each in the Royal London Cup and T20 Blast.
His last senior outing for Yorkshire came against eventual champions Warwickshire in September last year, scoring 58 and 21 at Headingley.
Head Ottis Gibson had hoped to have Ballance available in the future (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
A return appeared to be in the offing last summer when he turned out in three second XI matches in July, scoring centuries against Essex and Derbyshire, but no further outings were forthcoming.
Speaking in September, Yorkshire head coach Ottis Gibson insisted he was confident Ballance would represent the club again.
Managing director Darren Gough said: "We are sad to see Gary go, but he leaves with our best wishes.
"He has been a mainstay of our side for many years, and a superb batsman. As a club, we recognise that the last 18 months have been difficult for Gary, for numerous reasons, and the most important thing for him is to get better and play again.
"He felt he could not do this at Headingley, and we agreed to his request reluctantly but knowing that it was the right decision for him personally."
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