Jacques Rudolph will not try to put his own stamp on Yorkshire’s team when he takes over the captaincy from Andrew Gale against Somerset at Taunton today.
The South African, who was in the runs yet again during the county’s Clydesdale Bank win over the Netherlands on Saturday, just wants to ensure the “standards and principles” the 26-year-old has set are continued.
Gale will miss the side’s sixth LV= County Championship match of the season due to his call-up to the England Lions side to face Bangladesh at Derby on Wednesday.
It means a bit of re-shuffling for what has been a settled XI so far, with Gerard Brophy set to take the gloves to allow Jonny Bairstow to play as a batsman.
Brophy picked up a minor hamstring strain during Yorkshire’s four-wicket win against the Dutch at Headingley, which Anthony McGrath missed out on due to a minor knee injury. Both are expected to be fit, but Gary Ballance has travelled as cover.
Said Rudolph, who hit an unbeaten 83 off 100 balls as the White Rose chased down 201 with three balls to spare to maintain their 100 percent start to CB40’s Group ‘B’: “The standards and principles Galey has instilled are what I want to take forward.”
Yorkshire did not dominate a Dutch side, including Australian batsmen Michael Dighton and Tom Cooper, but there was never a stage when a shock looked on.
Tino Best and Steve Patterson both claimed three wickets each as the Dutch effort of 200-8 was boosted by a late unbeaten 49 off 40 balls from Mudassar Bukhari.
Gale, who shared an opening stand of 81 inside 20 overs with Rudolph, reckoned the slow and low nature of the pitch suited the Oranje, and Rudolph said Mohammad Kashif was the best off-spinner he has faced for some time.
Adam Lyth and Joe Sayers both added an important 29.
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