his commitment to the Yorkshire cause.

 

Before we go any further Jacques I’d just like to pass on people’s best wishes. When people heard I was interviewing you today a large number contacted me to pass on their good wishes and say ‘welcome to the club’. Over the last few days people have been very excited about the news of you coming to join us in Yorkshire.

 

That’s good to hear.

 

How tough has the last few weeks been - to give up your international cricket?

 

It has been tough, but I’m at the stage in my career now where I’ve been involved with the South African side for 4 years. It was a difficult thing but, I just felt it was time to go overseas and play county cricket and get experience through that, like Mike Hussey did, and further my career and take it from there. I don’t really have any issues with giving up my chances of playing for South Africa. The South African Cricket Board was happy to let me go and was very supportive from their point of view. I’m really going to Yorkshire for the experience and hopefully we can turn this into a long-term thing.

 

I was actually selected for this next Test match but I’d already signed the deal. Mickey Arthur said to me that I was playing and I said to him that if I was selected for South Africa I wouldn’t be available because I’ve got a commitment to Yorkshire cricket and that’s definitely how I see it.

 

You’ve said it was a tough decision to make, who did you turn for advice?

 

The decision was a massive one, it would have been for any twenty-five-year-old, but I’m still young. What really helped me was I phoned a lot of people and they gave me support and advice, before I signed this deal. To be honest with you, all the people I’ve spoken to including my parents, and mentors in my life, their response was very good and very supportive and 100% of the people I’ve spoken to were very supportive of my decision, including the people in the media who have wished my luck.

 

What are your thoughts on the quota system they employ in South Africa?

 

That’s not something I really want to get too far into really. It is a topic of conversation in South African cricket and has restricted opportunities but it isn’t the reason I’ve made this decision. I wouldn’t compare my situation with Kevin Pietersen’s a few years ago.

 

I understand you are married to a doctor. Will she be coming across with you?

 

She won’t be able to come over this year purely because she still has to finish her community service, but she will definitely join me the next year after this one.

 

What will you miss about playing Test cricket?

 

It’s the challenge of putting yourself to the test and competing against the best in the world. I’m coming to England for the experience. I will miss Test cricket, but I’ve made the decision and I’m going to run with it, because I’ve committed myself to Yorkshire.

 

What was your best moment while playing for South Africa? Would the 222 against Bangladesh on debut be right up there?

 

That was very special with it being my debut, but the hundred I got against Australia in Perth was probably the most memorable being in the conditions and the situation. We needed to save the Test on the last day and managing to pull it off was really special to me and I’d definitely say it’s one of my best all-time knocks.

 

Have we seen the last of you at international level?

 

It’s a difficult question to answer. Like I said I’m twenty-five-years-old – who knows. It’s a question I can only really answer when I get to that stage.

 

Your initial three year contract with Yorkshire is a long time isn’t – no one really knows what’s going to happen in that time. You’ve got the possibility of staying with Yorkshire after that. 

 

I’d like to re-assess after three years (or maybe after two years) and see if Yorkshire wants to renew my contract. It’s a question I can’t answer until then.

 

And there’s the possibility of qualifying to play for England if you stayed with Yorkshire for 4 years? Is that something you’d consider or again will you cross that bridge when you get there?

 

I’ve not considered that to be honest. In three or four years time I don’t know what the situations going to be like.

 

Why Yorkshire. There are a lot of counties, what makes Yorkshire special?

 

I was approached by a guy who said to me there was a Kolpak deal on offer from Yorkshire. I’ve always had great admiration for Yorkshire as a county. A lot of people in South Africa talk about Yorkshire being a real traditional county in England. I’m really looking forward to, to learn about English culture when it comes to cricket. Like in Australia the English people have a brilliant response to cricket so that’s definitely something I want to experience.

 

You’ll certainly find that Yorkshire people love their cricket.

 

Yeah that’s good.

 

I saw in a newspaper that Geoffrey Boycott, a great Yorkshire player, talked to you about playing for the county. Did he have much of an impact on your decision?

 

Yes. First of all it was a great privilege speaking to him. He basically asked what my plans were and what am I looking to do and I just told him I was committing myself to Yorkshire for at least three years and to take my cricket from there. I told him I was impressed with associating myself with Yorkshire County Cricket Club. I think it’s a tremendous privilege and something I’m really looking forward to.

 

What are your memories of the 2003 South African tour? Was there anything you learnt back then about the English pitches you might be able to use this year?

 

It was quite an important stage in my career, just starting out. I came from my debut series against Bangladesh just before that tour and I came to the UK with a lot of expectation on my shoulders. People wanted me to score runs consistently. The Test series in itself was quite difficult, because I didn’t score any runs besides a knock off 55 at Headingley which is quite significant. So all in all I think the English experience will be a great experience. I think it will take some time for me to get used to the pitches especially in April / May when the ball is going around a little bit more than its currently doing in South Africa. I’m really looking forward to it.

 

If you believe the weather forecast it’s going to be the hottest summer in history so you might get some sun on your back for batting later on.

 

I’ve actually spoken to some friends over there and they said it was minus 3 degrees yesterday (laughs).

 

Is there anyone you know in the current Yorkshire side?

 

Obviously Deon Kruis - I’ve know him since I was a very young boy, when I’d just started playing first class cricket. He actually phoned me the other day to congratulate me. He was actually playing for the Eagles in the year before I came here. I know Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard from playing against them and I’m looking forward to learning from them. I’m also going to be playing alongside Younis Khan. I had a long chat with Richard Pybus, the previous Pakistan coach, and he told me that Younis Khan is a lovely guy to have in the side and just to learn from him. So yeah, all in all I think it’s going to be great.

 

You mention that you are still only twenty-five-years-old, but you will be looked on as a senior player in the side. Is that something that excites you?

 

Yes most definitely, I would like to share my knowledge and experience of playing a little bit of international cricket. I would like to believe that I can go there with a lot of enthusiasm and have a positive influence on the side. I like to get along with people and help people if they need it.

 

Are you the sort of player that sets yourself targets – the number of runs that you are looking to score?

 

Not really, I went through a stage when I was a little bit younger where I did do that, but most of the time you end up frustrating yourself. My batting philosophy these days is to try and do things right and concentrate ball by ball. If you do that eventually you will get the runs that are supposed to come your way. I like to break it down nice and simple and have a good positive mindset at the crease.

 

You will be aware of the different types of domestic competition in England. Which are you looking forward to most the one day stuff or the four day game?

 

I think in South Africa people basically said I am a Test player, but I don’t really see myself like that. I average 45 in one day cricket overall with a strike rate of 73 and you can’t tell me that is bad. I’m looking forward to the one-day experience and from a four day perspective to play in England will be a great challenge for me.

 

Have you played much Twenty20 cricket?

 

I haven’t played a lot of games - I’m still trying to get into it. I think it’s going to be awesome to play on some of those grounds. I know that some of them are not that big so even though I’m not seen as a big slogger you may see the odd 6 from me.

 

You’ll find that at Headingley on a Twenty20 evening it’s absolutely packed to the rafters and there’s a really lively atmosphere.

 

Yeah that’s awesome.

 

Who would you say has been the biggest influence on your career?

 

Vincent Barnes, who is the assistant coach with the South African side - he started coaching me when I was sixteen in the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa. Ever since he has become a great personal friend of my wife and I. He knows my game inside out, my mental state and knows how to get the best out of me. Also Corrie van Zyl who’s another coach I’ve worked with at Eagles and he has been really influential. As far as other players are concerned someone like Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden and Steve Waugh. I know Matthew quite well and I’ve taken him fishing in South Africa and still speak to him now and then even though he’s in Australia. To speak to someone like him and get his mental state and approach to the game is awesome.

 

Have you got any cricket superstitions?

 

No. I put one pad on first but that’s not a superstition it’s just routine.

 

Where do you prefer to field?

 

I’ve been fielding at 1^st slip for The Eagles. I prefer fielding somewhere in the ring area as I’ve not really got the strongest arm in the world. In the ring or even short-leg, it doesn’t really matter to me - I can apply myself in any position. I do enjoy fielding, but you go through stages, like the 600+ partnership we had in Sri Lanka and then fielding is not nice. Ray Jennings always used to tell us that fielding is an attitude. A good approach towards fielding gives you a good mentality towards the game.

 

Have you got a nickname?

 

Jakes.

 

And finally Jakes, is there anything you’d like to say to the Yorkshire supporters.

 

I’m really excited about coming to Yorkshire. Of all the counties I think it’s the one where players are the most privileged to play just from the culture and tradition when it comes to cricket. To get your support would be really nice.

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