Jacques Rudolph

Records tumbled when Rudolph made his debut against Bangladesh rescueing South Africa from an embarrasin defeat against the newcomers.

Date of Birth:May 4, 1981, Springs, Transvaal

Test Debut: Against Bangladesh at Chittagong in 2003

ODI Debut: Against India at Dhaka in 2003

Bats: Left Hand Bat

Bowls: Leg Break Googly

Jacques Rudolph's cemented his place in the national team with a double-century on debut – and a record-breaking third-wicket stand of 429 with Boeta Dippenaar which garnered all the media attention worldwide.

His debut was the answer to the selectors who had long delayed his entrance into the internationals scene. He was unlucky in 2001 when his selection was vetoed by the UCB President on racial grounds.

Discrimination seemed to prevail in the career of this youngster but since then has proved the sceptics wrong by a powerfull display of strokes and pleasing footwork.

He averages a healthy 44 in Tests which establishes him as a bright prospect for South Africa in near future. But apart from his well earned place in the Test side his average of 90 in the One-Day Internationals will certainly take him a long way in the shorter version of the game too.