No More Kolpaks?

Both South Africa and England have been discussing how to clamp down on the numbers of Kolpak players in the English game; something that was recommended by the Schofield report.

South Africa have announced a new standardised contract, with the key element being a clause inserted into any overseas contract that requires them to be available for international duty.

Previously, Kolpak's effectively renounced international cricket but that won't be possible with the new contracts, which means they would have to be registered as overseas players.

Now is this a good thing or a bad thing? My county, Somerset, hasn't made extensive use of Kolpaks so it won't affect us massively (although Charl Willoughby has been a good signing) but for those counties which rely on a number of players, they will argue that this weakens them - Kolpaks are cheaper than overseas players but at the same time, it ought to create more opportunities for English players to come through.

http://www.cricketworld.com/south_africa/article/?aid=12498

Yes, the list of Kolpak players I think stands at around 20 at the moment, which is more than one per county.

I just wonder if we aren't going to see someone take issue with the clause, take the board to court on a restraint of trade/human rights type case and win, putting everything back to square one.

even though my own side has at least 4 Kolpaks I am all for cutting back on them, or better yet getting rid of them. Far too many mediocre players are making a good living off the English game whilst denying home grown talen the chance to develop - those that are good enough will still have the chance of earning contracts as overseas players.

I think it should be limited to one Kolpak and one overseas player a side in my opinion.

the trouble is that self-governance would almost certainly prove futile in the end - you have a county facing relegation gets the chance of signing a quality Kolpak who could turn their season around and their survival insticts would kick in

Or, South Africa names 20-man squads per test with all Kolpaks in it.

That'd soon get pretty tiresome for both players and counties and they'd eventually stop signing them.

(!)

Once again a ruling by the high courts in the EU has had a negative effect on this country. It seems to be happening more and more often that Brussels is dictating on issues where there input is not appropriate.

I really hope that they get a good hearing and that the ruling is overturned, or restrictions put in place, as the Kolpak ruling is doing English (and SA) cricket no favours.

In reality I don't think they'll get very far with this, but I hope I'm proved wrong.


Edited by Homer S - 26 July 2007 at 11:00am

I think foreign players do help our english players, but they have to be of the right age. Shane Warne, Murali, Langer, Mushtaq were/are all great additions to the county league but also all of the right experience to pass down knowledge.

But Malinga and Powell have been brought in as replacements for other overseas players.

The rules state you're allowed two, and it's quite rare (rightly or wrongly) that counties won't take advantage of that.

Originally posted by Sledger  I hear you TCA. I wonder whether the threat of relgation or the allure of promotion is another reason (being cheap is another) why the counties are bringing in short term foreigners.........just a quick fix?      ..

Originally posted by TCA123 Originally posted by Sledger  I hear you TCA. I wonder whether the threat of relgation or the allure of promotion is another reason (being cheap is another) why the counties are bringing in short term foreigners.........just a quick fix?      ..   Quick fix definately, you can't tell me these short term contracts allow a foreign player to remotely aid any english development.

people in Kent still eulogise about the month Steve Waugh spent with them a few years back.

Overseas players aren't the big issue to my mind , it is journeymen coming over from SA and taking up 3 year contracts with counties.

Apart from they are cheaper?

That's how I felt at my club this year! I joined them in May, my Aussie mate came over and joined just after, they put him straight into the 1st's! I'm not even making the 2nd's! Cheeky sod...