Last week's unfortunate unofficial Test at Centurion Park has left two people wondering whether they'll be remembered in history as the new Alan Jones. Jacques Rudolph of South Africa and the Indian opener Connor Williams both made their first international appearances in a game that looks destined to be ignored by the record books. And if they never catch the eye of the selectors again, they could forever be caught in limbo like Jones.

"Jones the Bat" was a prolific opener for Glamorgan, who received just one call-up for England. He made 5 and 0, dismissed by the great Mike Procter both times. No crime in that. But Jones's problem was that it was England's first match against the Rest of the World in 1970, a substitute series whistled up after the intended tour by South Africa was cancelled. The matches were called Tests, marketed as Tests, and included as Tests in Wisden for about ten years. But actually, because the Rest of the World isn't a country (or a member of ICC) they were unofficial Tests. So they don't count. And after a few years in Wisden as an England Test player, Jones found himself disowned.

A couple of years ago I asked him how it felt. "Obviously I'm disappointed they took the cap away," he said. "Actually I've still got all the stuff – sweater, cap, blazer and tie – but I've never worn them. I enjoyed the experience, but in some ways it was a bit late for me, because I'd had better years before and not been selected. That was fair enough when people like John Edrich and Geoff Boycott were around, but I remember being a bit upset once when Fred Titmus opened."

Rudolph, who's only 20, is likely to get plenty more chances to share Test cricket's first all-right-Jacques partnership, with Kallis, possibly as early as next month in Australia. But Connor Williams, who's 28, untried against high pace, and the most unlikely-sounding Indian player since fast bowler David Johnson, will be fervently hoping that the England series goes ahead and that he can retain his place at the top of the order.

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