Derbyshire sign South Africa's test saviour.

DERBYSHIRE County Cricket Club has signed South African batsman Jacques Rudolph for the 2006 season.

The 24-year-old left hander has been in excellent form during his country's current tour of Australia culminating in an epic century to save the first test match at Perth. Rudolph held his side together for over seven hours in the last innings and was undefeated on 102 at the close.

Rudolph has played 29 test matches with an average of 40.4 and seven centuries, including a double hundred in his first test innings. In addition he has played 38 one day internationals with an average of 37.7.

Chief Executive Tom Sears said: 'Jacques is one of the best …