Unravelling mystery surrounding tale of cloak-and-dagger secrecy

ONE does not require the sleuthing skills of Sherlock Holmes to deduce that Jacques Rudolph has played his last game for Yorkshire.

It is elementary, my dear reader, following a fortnight that confirmed supporters' suspicions.

As if summer-long rumours were not sufficient, fuelled by Rudolph's reluctance to clarify his future, the closing days of the county season proved he will not be fulfilling the rest of his contract.

That was clear in the way he celebrated his hundred against Warwickshire at Scarborough nine days ago, with an expression of elation that was entirely out of character.

It was evident in the way that Adam Lyth, his opening partner, applauded him in animated fashion as he walked off the field after making just 13 in his final innings against Kent at Headingley on Wednesday.

And it was obvious in the way Rudolph's team-mates shook his hand at the end of that game as he waved his goodbyes to an innocent crowd.

Rudolph, alas, is taking his bat into the South African sunset.

After four outstanding seasons with Yorkshire, he wants to resume his international career.

But why no official announcement of Rudolph's departure?

Why have player and club so far kept schtum?

Officially, Rudolph has one year left on his Yorkshire contract and there is "no news to report".

But if the 29-year-old is returning to Headingley next summer, my name is Professor Moriarty.

The reason for the cloak-and-dagger secrecy is simple – and it has its roots in the way Rudolph was signed in the first place.

Back in the winter of 2006-07, when Yorkshire's plans were thrown into disarray by Chris Adams's decision to turn his back on a three-year contract as captain/manager, the club decided they had no alternative but to go down the Kolpak route to strengthen their batting.

A Kolpak player, for those unaware, is one who hails from a country with an associate trading agreement with the European Union.

Such players do not have to be registered as overseas cricketers, thus allowing clubs to sign additional imports.

However, under England and Wales Cricket Board regulations, Kolpak players must not have played international cricket during the previous 12 months.

As Rudolph had played for South Africa in 2006, he did not meet the necessary ECB criteria.

But Yorkshire were not to be deterred.

They discovered the ruling was not legally enforceable under European Law and opted to sign Rudolph to widespread displeasure.

In response, the ECB took the unusual step of releasing a statement in which it "unanimously condemned" what it perceived as Yorkshire's exploitation of a legal loophole.

Rudolph signed a sworn affidavit foregoing his right to play for South Africa – an aspiration the player is now pursuing.

As Rudolph would have flouted Kolpak regulations by publicly announcing he wanted to play again for South Africa while still playing for Yorkshire, a bizarre situation has existed all summer in which insiders knew Rudolph was on his way but no-one could say so for fear of censure.

An announcement can be expected in the not-too-distant future that Rudolph, with great reluctance and after much careful consideration, has decided he wants to fight to resume his international career.

Although the manner of his departure is messy, Rudolph's time with Yorkshire was mutually beneficial.

Not only did he become a much better batsman for his spell in county cricket, but Yorkshire would have been considerably poorer without his services and would almost certainly have been relegated at some point in the Championship.

Rudolph scored more than 1,000 first-class runs in each of his four seasons and was Yorkshire's leading Championship run-scorer in every year except this one, when he finished second behind Lyth.

This summer he scored 2,463 runs in all competitions – statistics that make him nigh-on impossible for Yorkshire to replace.

Considering the nature of his signing and swansong, it is ironic that Rudolph was one of the most popular and professional cricketers Yorkshire have possessed.

Like the great Darren Lehmann, whom he effectively replaced as the club's overseas batsman, Rudolph was not only a top-class player but a top-class person – a character liked by one and all.

No autograph was ever too much trouble to sign, no interview too much trouble to give. He was an admirable ambassador on and off the field.

No-one should blame Rudolph for wanting to challenge himself again at the highest level.

The clock is ticking as he approaches 30 – and a player who made 35 Test and 45 one-day international appearances prior to joining Yorkshire has much to offer his national side.

Last month, reports in South Africa made clear that Corrie van Zyl, the Proteas' coach, wanted Rudolph to make himself available once more.

Given the unpredictable nature of professional sport, who is to say Rudolph will not play again for Yorkshire at some point in the future – and on more straightforward and transparent terms?

For now, however, the double act is over, and Yorkshire without Rudolph feels a bit like Sherlock Holmes without Dr Watson.

Rudolph's time at Yorkshire

2007

First-class: Matches 15, Innings 22, Not Outs 3, Runs 1,078, Average 56.73, Highest Score 220, 100s 4, 50s 3 List A: Matches 15, Innings 14, Not Outs 2, Runs 587, Average 48.91, Highest Score 127, 100s 2, 50s 2

Twenty20: M 8, Inns 7, NO 4, Runs 126, Av 42.00, HS 48, 100s 0, 50s 0

2008

First-class: M 16, Inns 24, NO 1, Runs 1,292, Av 56.17, HS 155, 100s 5, 50s 6 List A: M 18, Inns 16, NO 2, Runs 675, Av 48.21, HS 120, 100s 1, 50s 5

Twenty20: M 9, Inns 8, NO 1, Runs 191, Av 27.28, HS 56, 100s 0, 50s 1

2009

First-class: M 17, Inns 29, NO 1, Runs 1,366, Av 48.78, HS 198, 100s 4, 50s 6 List A: M 15, Inns 15, NO 1, Runs 685, Average 48.92, Highest Score 118, 100s 1, 50s 6

Twenty20: Matches 10, Inns 8, NO 0, Runs 166, Av 20.75, HS 61, 100s 0, 50s 1

2010

First-class: M 16, Inns 29, NO 2, Runs 1,375, Av 50.92, HS 228*, 100s 4, 50s 6 List A: Matches 13, Inns 13, NO 4, Runs 861, Average 95.66, Highest Score 124*, 100s 4, 50s 5

Twenty20: M 12, Inns 12, NO 0, Runs 227, Av 18.91, HS 53, 100s 0, 50s 1