Yorkies "sack" Reindeer

Expect him back under Smiffy's leadership very shortly.

It's a big family, the South African one.

* LINK *

Yorkshire release Jacques Rudolph

ESPNcricinfo staff

September 23, 2010

Yorkshire have released Jacques Rudolph from the final year of his contract, paving the way for a possible return to the South Africa line-up. The county have said that family reasons are behind Rudolph's desire to return home, but it is known that he has been contacted about making a comeback to the international stage.

Rudolph joined Yorkshire as Kolpak player in 2007 - meaning he didn't count as an overseas cricketer - and passed 1000 Championship runs in each of his four seasons including 1375 runs in the recently completed 2010 campaign. In total he scored 8629 runs for Yorkshire in all competitions and his consistent form hasn't been lost on the South Africa coach Corrie van Zyl. "We are aware that he has excelled in England over the past few years," he told Sport24.co.za.

"Whilst Jacques has thoroughly enjoyed his time with Yorkshire, he and his wife Elna have found it difficult adjusting to life in England," said a Yorkshire statement. "Jacques has spent each winter with his family in South Africa and whilst his wife Elna moved to Leeds in an attempt to find suitable employment as a doctor, nevertheless this has not worked out as they both would have liked.

"They are both very keen to start a family and, with an unsettled lifestyle, felt it was impossible to put down roots and make plans for the future. As such, they formally requested to be released from the final year of Jacques's contract and the board of directors have granted this wish."

He wouldn't dislodge anyone in the Saffie top six at the moment.

I wonder why his wife couldn't find a job as a doctor in Leeds?

I guess us Yorkies will get some kolpak stick for this and possibly rightly so. Better to stick with the home grown talent, at least we've got plenty of that at the moment.

I wouldn't give Yorkshire any stick for that, he is a quality player.

I don't think Rudolph make any secret of his desire to return to SA at some stage.

"I'll still be young, 28, when I come back and I'm sure I can be a great prospect for South Africa then," the scorer of five hundreds in his 35 Tests said.

link from 2007

but it's not all bad news...we could be getting Sidearse back. Joy.