Jaques announced earlier this week he would retire from playing for NSW at the end of this season to join English side Yorkshire on a British passport.

The left-hand opening batsmen made his mark on the international game in a short but impressive stint.

He scored three Test hundreds in just 11 games including a 108 in his last Test in 2008 in a career many experts felt deserved more appearances.

‘‘I leave Australian cricket with no regrets,’’ Jaques said.

‘‘I would’ve loved to have played more games for Australia but I think I was a little unfortunate being behind two of the greatest opening batters ever in Justin Langer and Matt Hayden.

‘‘I had to bide my time and then I got injured at the wrong time.’’

A debilitating back injury left him unable to stand up straight, let alone play cricket.

But three surgeries, including a prosthetic disc implanted in his lower back by a Queensland surgeon in 2009, helped get him back on track.

‘‘The back is feeling as good as it has for years.

‘‘That was part of the reason why I wanted to go to England now while I can still play some decent cricket.

‘‘Playing for NSW has been the love of my life and I’ve loved every second of it.’’

While Jaques was content with his limited appearances in the Baggy Green he felt he could have made more of a mark in the 50-over format.

After scoring Australia’s highest score on debut (94), Jaques added just five more games.

‘‘I suppose the one-day stuff was the most frustrating.

‘‘With the Test side I was behind a golden era of cricket in Australia and I probably had my best years when Langer and Hayden were playing their best cricket.’’

‘‘With the one-day game I never really had a regular run, I’d be in for one or two games a time.

‘‘But I can’t be bitter and twisted.

‘‘I did everything I could to play at the best level.’’

His stint in England is dependent on the English Cricket Board allowing him to play as a local player.