Glamorgan's overseas batsman Jacques Rudolph has set himself a target of scoring early runs
Former South African Test opener Jacques Rudolph arrives in time for Glamorgan's second competitive match on 20 April and he believes putting down an early marker could be the key to a successful season.
I've found in the past that if I can do well in the first few months it always helps to sustain you, he said.
The one thing I'd really like to do is try and get early momentum as opposed to starting scratching around - sometimes it can get a bit tough then.
He believes his previous county experience with Yorkshire and Surrey will help him settle in at Glamorgan.
The fact that I have quite a bit of county experience and I've done fairly well over there makes me really excited, said Rudolph.
I'm very excited about about Glamorgan, I've heard very good things about them and I think they're going to have a very good season.
I don't specifically have runs goals, [but] I think it would be nice to get more than 1,000 runs for the four-day competition.
I think it will be nice to get Glamorgan from second division into the first division.
My favourite format is the one-day campaign, however I do enjoy the T20 format. It's important for someone like myself to keep evolving as a player seeing that the game is moving forward at a rapid rate.
Rudolph has played in two one-day games in Cardiff before at domestic and international level. First in 2003, when South Africa played Zimbabwe as part of Tri-Series, although he didn't bat because two former Glamorgan players Herschelle Gibbs (93 not out) and Martin van Jaarsveld (8 not out) completed the victory.
Then in August 2007 whilst with Yorkshire he made 49 not out in a 8 wicket win when another Glamorgan old boy Jason Gillespie returned figures of 8-1 from 7 overs including 3 maidens.
My standout memory was playing against Glamorgan and facing Simon Jones under lights when he was bowling very fast, said Rudolph.
I do like the SWALEC Stadium and I can't wait to experience what the city of Cardiff has to offer. When Matt Maynard was coach at Titans, we used to play a lot of golf, so hopefully he can return the favour and show me the best courses on offer in Wales. He's also not the worst golf partner, he always used to win!
Matt Maynard believes Glamorgan have made a good signing in Jacques,
The first year I was with the Titans he played brilliantly well and forced himself back into the south African side, said Maynard.
He's adaptable and I think that's what's going to be key for Glamorgan in the early season. As well as opening he can bat in the middle order, and is a pretty good Twenty20 player. He's a real fine signing and I just hope he still has that drive to succeed.
Glamorgan begin their new season against Surrey on Sunday 6th April, whilst the NatWest T20 Blast campaign gets underway at Hampshire on 16th May, before the first T20 Blast match in Cardiff on 30th May against Sussex Sharks
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