Wayne Madsen, Derbyshire Falcons’ all-time leading T20 run-scorer, will retire from domestic T20 cricket.

The 42-year-old will play his final T20 Blast match on Sunday when the Falcons host Leicestershire, but will still feature in the County Championship and One-Day Cup.

Madsen is the fourth highest run-scorer in Blast history and has amassed 5,108 runs, including two centuries, in 185 innings.

The South African-born right-handed batsman represents Italy in the format and played in this year’s T20 World Cup in India.

He helped the Falcons to their only Finals Day appearance in 2019, as well as the quarterfinals in 2017 and 2022.

Derbyshire sit second in the Blast North group after just two wins from 11 games this summer and cannot qualify for finals day this year.

“I still have a great desire to play and compete for Derbyshire and firmly believe I have much more to contribute in the longest format of the game,” Madsen told the club website., external

“This is certainly not a retirement from cricket. I still intend to continue playing white-ball cricket at international level for Italy and in franchise competitions when opportunities arise.

“But stepping away from the domestic T20 game gives me the opportunity to manage that balance better in the future.”

Derbyshire boss of cricket Mickey Arthur added: “There are no words that can describe Wayne’s impact on T20 cricket at Derbyshire Justice, he is the club’s best player in this format and I am privileged to have coached him for the last five seasons.

“Even at the age of 42, the quality and innovation is still there and we look forward to what Wayne can continue to offer us in the future.”