By JMB
March 30 2007

Yorkshire have this morning confirmed that the signing of Jacques Rudolph has been cleared by the ECB. An ECB panel met yesterday to discuss the legitimacy of signing Rudolph who last represented South Africa as recently as August 2006. Rudolph is now a Yorkshire player. The ECB found no legal reason why Rudolph (25) should not be allowed to represent the White Rose county as a Kolpak player for at least the next three seasons. They have however censured Yorkshire as Rudolph appeared for Eagles in a first class match shortly after stating his intention to commit himself to Yorkshire and turn his back on South African cricket.

The Corridor understands that Rudolph had not wanted to let his Eagles teammates or the club down and therefore honoured the remainder of his Eagles contract, before his formal ties with Yorkshire commenced. He hadn't appreciated that this might have been contrary to the spirit of any agreement reached. Rudolph can still play state cricket in South Africa, but will now only be able to play as an overseas player.

In a letter to Yorkshire County Cricket Club the ECB stated: "Whilst the Board believes that applications to register players following the Kolpak ruling may not generally be in the best interests of cricket in England & Wales and hence condemns such applications the Board has however agreed to accept Mr Rudolph’s registration as a qualified player under regulation 2.1."

When considering the rights and wrongs of the emotive Kolpak issue it is easy to forget that Jacques Rudolph is a human being who has given up international cricket to play for Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Stewart Regan told The Corridor that he had spoken to Rudolph who was delighted and relieved that the matter was now resolved and that he couldn't wait to join the rest of the Yorkshire squad and start playing cricket. Yorkshire's official website quotes Jacques as saying, "I am just glad that the long wait is over and I can now make plans to come to Yorkshire. I cannot wait to join my new team-mates and start my Yorkshire career. I have been keeping up to date with developments at the club and it is certainly looking good for 2007."

Rudolph will join up with the squad on 11th April and will be available for Yorkshire's first game of the season against Surrey at The Oval.