Jacques Rudolph: Glamorgan captain to take paternity leave

Jacques Rudolph's obdurate innings helped Glamorgan to a draw against Lancashire

Glamorgan captain Jacques Rudolph is to miss the next two Championship games on paternity leave in South Africa.

Rudolph, 34, will be away for the matches at home to Kent and away to Northamptonshire while his wife gives birth, before returning for the final match away to Gloucestershire.

He confirmed his absence after Glamorgan drew against Lancashire.

"I think the boys understand. I've always been of the opinion that family comes first," he told BBC Wales Sport.

"I would have liked to be here, but in 20 years time when I look back I would like to be there when my first child was born."

Rudolph's 63 runs off 206 balls helped Glamorgan salvage a draw after following on against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

The result delayed the home side's expected promotion as Division Two champions.

Rudolph will join wife Terri-Lee in their native South Africa in early September before coming back for the final fixture at Bristol, which starts on 22 September.

Wicket-keeper Mark Wallace has plenty of captaincy experience

Wicket-keeper Mark Wallace, who led the team in the Championship in the previous three seasons, is set to deputise in Rudolph's absence.

"I assume it will be Mark Wallace, he is vice-captain and I think he fully deserves to captain the team but it hasn't been discussed yet," he said.

Glamorgan will also need to find a replacement opening bat with Rudolph having been at the top of the order all season.

The captain helped his side end a run of three championship defeats as they finished on 159/3 in their second innings after being forced to follow on 249 runs behind.

"It was nice to spend some time in the middle, on a wicket that provided the spinners with quite a bit of turn and Chris Cooke (41 not out) played unbelievably," he added.

"I think in hindsight we've done the best we could have done in a bad situation and it's good to walk away from this ground with a draw."

"As a team we want to take things forward, look at the big picture where we want to be.

"In the next couple of years we want to play First Division cricket and against strong opposition like this you've got to try and find ways to get yourself into winning positions.

"Unfortunately in this game, with the way we batted in the first innings we didn't do that."

Glamorgan are next in action against Kent on the 9 September after sitting out the next round of four-day games and missing out on the knockout stages of the limited overs competitions.