South African batsman Jacques Rudolph fears 2009 may be his last at Headingley due to an imminent change in the Kolpak rules.

The ECB are intent on clamping down on the amount of foreign players entering the county game on the controversial trade agreement, which allows them to play as a domestically qualified player.

There are five new stipulations the ECB want to bring in next year in a bid to reduce the numbers – and four of them relate to the amount of international appearances made.

The fifth relates to holding a ‘player only’ work permit in 2008, but the other four state the player in question must have played international cricket 24 months prior to 2010.

“I am not completely sure of the regulations, but because of the time-frame I don’t think that I will be able to qualify,” said the 27-year-old, who last played international cricket in 2006, and begins his third season in county cricket.

“I think for a lot of Kolpakkers, this will be their last season.”

An example of somebody who should meet the requirements is new Surrey signing Andre Nel, who has only just retired from international cricket with South Africa.

White Rose captain Anthony McGrath said: “We are just going to have to see how that goes. We have got him this year, though, and I am sure he will be great for us.”

Rudolph is determined not to worry about the possibilities.

He wants to replicate the kind of form which saw him score 2,158 runs in all competitions last season.

“When I first came there was a lot of speculation about Kolpakkers, but I am done with all that,” he said.

“I just want to play cricket. I think there is a lot of expectation on us to win something this season.

“I have just got to try to build on what happened last season.”

Rudolph began his winter by travelling the world, and ended it by helping the Nashua Titans to the South African provincial four-day championship title this weekend.

* Yorkshire all-rounder Tim Bresnan has been given a late call up to the MCC side for today’s first-class friendly against Durham at Lord’s.

Bresnan, who played for Yorkshire in Tuesday’s friendly win against Lancashire at Old Trafford, replaces injured Middlesex bowler Steven Finn.

He joins Tykes team-mates Michael Vaughan and Adil Rashid in the MCC side.

Andrew Gale will captain a youthful looking Yorkshire side in today’s second one-day friendly against Lancashire.