No Tests again this week, but most leading international sides were in one-day action and there were some first-class games in Pakistan, South Africa and Australia in particular.
In Hyderabad, England warmed up nicely for their brief one-day series. Scott Borthwick took five wickets and Jonny Bairstow continued where he left off in England by thrashing the attack for an unbeaten 104 in 53 balls. Surprisingly he had been unaware of his century until he returned to the pavilion because the scoreboard had not displayed the batsmen's individual scores. Well, it's easy to lose track of your total after so many fours and sixes, isn't it?! Of course, when it came to the opening ODI, MS Dhoni top-scored in a revenge victory for India.
Teenage fast bowler Pat Cummins impressed in his first T20Is for Australia against South Africa, taking 3-25 and 2-26. West Indian opener Lendl Simmons is a bit older, at 26, but he hit a one-day best of 122, then 80 in the victories over Bangladesh. He has yet to fulfil his potential at the highest level but this week may spur him on to greater things against top-class opposition. He's not the fastest scorer, but an entertaining anchor is a useful attribute for a side which can rely to much on the likes of Pollard and the Bravos in the short formats.
However, some of the most sparkling performances of the past seven days have come in the southern hemisphere. Adam Voges combined 58 and 150 not out for Western Australia against Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield. Meanwhile, in South Africa, 20 year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Rudi Second, in only his seventh 1st class game, scored 78 and took an amazing twelve catches for Free State against North West in a 3-day match. There were eight in the second innings alone!
However, my Player of the Week is another South African, Jacques Rudolph. Out of the international scene for five years, he chose to develop his craft in England, becoming a prolific runscorer for Yorkshire until 2010, after which he opted to return home and maybe try to regain his Test place for the Proteas. His chances have been enhanced by the shedloads of runs made in the first three Supersport Series fixtures, culminating in his 210 and 87 for Titans vs Lions this week. Those scores bring his aggregate in three games to almost 600, failing to reach 50 only once so far.
At 30, he has time on his side to get back in favour and improve on his averages of around 36 both in 35 Tests and 45 ODIs. His career first-class average is an excellent 46 while his List A figure is an even better 49, and they are statistics of a top-notch batsman. Mind you, Messrs Smith, Amla and De Villiers are world-class acts who won't want to give up their places just yet, unless Graeme opts for retirement. If and when he does, watch out for the stylish lefthander, Jacobus Andries Rudolph, ready and willing to step up to the plate.
