Cleckheaton fast bowler Iain Wardlaw has left Yorkshire a month after helping Scotland qualify for next year’s World Cup.

The 28-year-old from Dewsbury, who qualifies to play for the Scots through his father, has been granted a release from his contract at Headingley after failing to gain regular first-team cricket since signing midway through 2011.

A Yorkshire statement has said that Wardlaw, who used to work in the accounts department of a graphic design company, will now pursue opportunities outside the professional game having been granted a release from his contract, which had another season to run.

He will, however, continue to play in the JCT600 Bradford League at weekends.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a professional cricketer with Yorkshire,” said Wardlaw, a victim of significant competition in the White-Rose county’s fast bowling department.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody associated with the club, in particular the supporters, and I wish the lads all the best for the 2014 season.”

In 31 first-team matches, including only three in the County Championship, Wardlaw took 33 wickets. He had most of his success in A-List cricket, taking 24 wickets from 17 matches.

He played at the Twenty20 Champions League in 2012, picking up the prized scalp of India captain MS Dhoni.

After taking 16 wickets from eight matches for Scotland at the recent World Cup qualifiers in New Zealand, Wardlaw can look forward to the main event in Australia and New Zealand next February and March.

Scotland face New Zealand, England, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Australia in Pool A.

Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves added: “Iain is a great guy, and I am sorry that he has not had the breaks he needed to establish himself in our first team. I would like to thank him for his contribution over the last few years, and wish him well in the future.”

* Yorkshire fast bowlers Matthew Fisher and Josh Shaw shared a last-wicket partnership of 34 to help England seal third place in the Under-19s World Cup with a thrilling win over Australia in Dubai yesterday.

England, chasing 247, fell to 213-9 with 23 balls left. Fisher, 16, subsequently hit 20 off 12 balls and Shaw 12 off ten. Earlier, captain Will Rhodes took 2-35 from eight overs and hit 28.