Derbyshire captain Simon Katich has announced he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
Derbyshire batsman wants Australia place back.
Derbyshire will be losing their captain at the end of the season after Simon Katich announced he would be leaving the county to try and earn his place back in the Australia side.
Katich has led from the front for Derbyshire this season, and has averaged over 75 during the summer having been in fine touch.
The 32-year-old has played back-to-back seasons with Derbyshire and Australian state side New South Wales, and he says it had taken its toll.
"I have thought long and hard about this decision and it has been a difficult one for me to make.
"I have never played two back-to-back full seasons of county cricket, and being captain of both sides would make it very difficult because you can't keep going at 100% the whole time."
Baggy Green aim
Katich, who has 23 Test caps for Australia, would like to try and add to his tally, according to Derbyshire head of cricket John Morris.
"I am obviously disappointed that Simon feels unable to come back next year due to the fact that he still has ambitions to play for Australia," Morris said.
"He has never returned to England for a back-to-back second term with any of the other counties that he has represented in the past.
"Simon feels that if he is to achieve his ambition to one day play for Australia again, he needs to commit his future to New South Wales.
"We have made a financial offer to Simon that I am sure was very attractive, but I have to respect that his decision is not financial but is purely to do with his own ambitions as an Australian player."
Katich, who has also played for Durham, Hampshire and Yorkshire in country cricket, was unable to get Derbyshire near to promotion despite his form, but his effort has still been greatl appreciated.
Chairman Don Amott added: "I would like to thank Simon for everything he has done for us this season in what at times have been difficult circumstances.
"Simon helped the club out immensely by taking charge of cricket matters after the mid-season departure of (former director of cricket) David Houghton and we thank him especially for that."
