Jacques Rudolph signs for Yorkshire

[greg]

Has signed for Yorkshire on a 3 year Kolpak deal.Does this mean his international career is over or are Rudolph and Yorkshire bending the rules somewhat?

At least that gives Yorkshire a better batting lineup now with him and Younis in it but having lost the only 3 decent players from last season they still need to find 1 or 2 more.

[Wanderer]

Jacques was interviewed on a local cricket show last night. Seems like he had a long discussion with the powers-that-be in SA cricket about this deal. And they have come to somewhat of an amicable "agreement".

Jakes is 25, and he believes that he will come back a better player (like Hussey, for instance) after gaining more experience as a Kolpak player. Even if he only returns to play for SA again at the age of 28/29, it's still young....

Yes. Because he is now a Kolpak player, he is actually NOT eligible to play for SA till after the contract. But, IF he is selected and DOES play for SA again, BEFORE the conclusion of his contract, he will NOT be considered a Kolpak player anymore, but an overseas professional. That means Yorkshire will have to let go of either him or Younis Khan then.

On the other hand, while playing for his local franchise, the Eagles, while on Kolpak contract, he will be considered an overseas professional.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by greg

Has signed for Yorkshire on a 3 year Kolpak deal.Does this mean his international career is over?

Not at all: he's a kid with a very, VERY bright future. He was rather thrown in at the deep end, scoring 222 on debut back in 2003 (at an age where he should have been concentrating on learning his trade in domestic cricket, on 'A' tours and at acedamies).... and after this three year deal he'll STILL be younger than Hussey was when he made his stunning Test debut... indeed, he'll be about the same age that Steve Waugh started the final (superbly productive) decade of his career.

The fact that child prodigies come along and just take to Test cricket like a duck to water seems to skew too many people's thinking: you can still be a truly great Test batsman with a career starting at 28 (as Rudolph will be when this 3 year stint is over).

ps. Telegraph article here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mai...4/scyork24.xml

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Rachael

you can still be a truly great Test batsman with a career starting at 28

Though interesting that none of the modern-day greats had careers starting at 28 or even the wrong side of 26. To be a "great", you need around 8-10 years at the top, and most people starting at 28 don't get that.

If someone's not considered good enough to merit an automatic place in the Test team by the team they are 26/27, their claim to greatness is questionable at best.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Maranello

Though interesting that none of the modern-day greats had careers starting at 28 or even the wrong side of 26 [...] If someone's not considered good enough to merit an automatic place in the Test team by the team they are 26/27, their claim to greatness is questionable at best.

Steve Waugh's career didn't really get going (at least in terms of staking a claim to greatness) until he was 28: check out the career stats...

 Mat I NO Runs HS1 HS2 HS3 Ave 100 50 0
 
unfiltered 168 260 46 10927 200 199 177* 51.06 32 50 22
filtered 52 80 11 2503 177* 152* 134* 36.27 4 15 8
filtered 116 180 35 8424 200 199 170 58.09 28 35 14

1st Filter: in matches that ended by 1993-06-02.
2nd Filter: in matches that started after 1993-06-02.

Mike Hussey is making a late start and if he continues in his current vein for another 6-8 years he'll surely end his career being talked about as one of the best players of his generation.

[Maranello]

I am not sure Waugh is a relevant example - he had already played 52 Tests by the time he was 28, and whilst he was not considered a World XI contender by any means, he was a regular performer, one who had played a crucial role in helping Australia win the 1987 World Cup.

The point remains that good players should start playing Test cricket in their early 20s and only the odd late developer should still not be a regular post-26/27. Hussey is an excellent case in point - if he is as good as some argue, he should have started playing a couple of years earlier. Now, even if he plays for another 5/6 years, he would probably not have had a long enough career to be considered Border, Waugh or Ponting's equal.

[Milo]

Agreed Maranello. I like to see at least ten years between second and penultimate test century, whatever the ages.

Fact is, if he was really any good, he wouldn't have to be doing this. It's not as if the South African batting has been full of runs recently.

[Notts Exile]

The ECB have given the go ahead for this.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...re/6509419.stm

Personally I don't like it. I fully expect to see Rudolph scoring runs over here next time the Proteas tour. I also don't believe it's right that counties should be able to play so many overseas Test players. Aren't Gillespie and Younis Khan enough?

As for the statement ""We took the decision to recruit Rudolph as there were no world-class English batsmen still available at this time and our own youngsters were not, in our opinion, ready to be thrown into the deep end." How many counties get to select "World Class english batsmen"? They play for England. Being a Yorkshireman by birth I take them as my second county, not this summer.

[cantplaycantalk]

Sadly I think Yorkshire will have a good year on the back of the foreign contingentand the home grown spin twins.

Only the lack of strength in the bowling prevents me tipping them for honours this year.

[greg]

I don't like it either but look how many Kolpak players are at sides like Kent and Hampshire.All sides are bending the rules to suit them.