No More Kolpaks?
Printed From: Cricket World
Category: Letter To The Editor
Forum Name: Domestic News
Forum Discription: Your Views
URL: http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4036
Printed Date: 22 May 2013 at 2:52am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.71 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: No More Kolpaks?
Posted By: -JP-
Subject: No More Kolpaks?
Date Posted: 25 July 2007 at 10:07am
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 - http://www.cricketworld.com/south_africa/article/?aid=12498
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Replies:
Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 25 July 2007 at 10:14am
It needed addressing JP - there's more South Africans in county
cricket than playing here in domestic competitions
(welllllllllllllll nearly!).
The added clause is a welcome addition to
contracts in SA - the Board here don't want to lose anymore youngsters
to England -afterall,Trott and company learnt the ropes here.
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Mental disintegration works for me !!
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Posted By: -JP-
Date Posted: 25 July 2007 at 10:36am
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.
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Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 25 July 2007 at 10:45am
Well the two boards are approaching the European Commission hoping for
some sort of dispensation , if that's turned down I don't think there's
much they can do. (The ECB and CSA that is)
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Mental disintegration works for me !!
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Posted By: Clobber
Date Posted: 25 July 2007 at 11:07am
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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.
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Posted By: spin wizard
Date Posted: 25 July 2007 at 3:50pm
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Although I don't know a thing about Kolpak, I think the sides in England are signing too much overseas lads and forgetting about their own blood. I know the teams want to win but that extra room could help develop a legend to play for their own country.
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In troubled times, being philosophical helps a great deal, it helps you to remain sane and not do any further damage.
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Posted By: Freddie
Date Posted: 25 July 2007 at 5:50pm
I think it should be limited to one Kolpak and one overseas player a side in my opinion.
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On extended leave...
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Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 26 July 2007 at 6:30am
Sound idea Freddie , but the law says that the ECB can't
legally prevent the signing of Kolpaks. The ECB and CSA can only
approach the Euorpean Commission and ask for restrictions - it could
well be a futile exercise.
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Mental disintegration works for me !!
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Posted By: Clobber
Date Posted: 26 July 2007 at 9:57am
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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
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Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 26 July 2007 at 10:13am
Maybe they need a transfer window , not unlike football Clobs. Say , after the end of July , no more signings.
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Mental disintegration works for me !!
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Posted By: -JP-
Date Posted: 26 July 2007 at 10:18am
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.
(!)
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Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 26 July 2007 at 10:25am
Nice idea , but they'd have to central contract all 20 and CSA just don't have that kind of money!
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Mental disintegration works for me !!
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Posted By: Max Power
Date Posted: 26 July 2007 at 11:00am
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.
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There's 2 ways of doing things - the right way, and the MAX POWER way!
BT&OBCC
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Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 26 July 2007 at 3:02pm
They'll be a lot of big lunches and dinners lad , a 50 page
document which will resolve nothing. Fine body (big
too!) , the European Parliament.
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Mental disintegration works for me !!
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Posted By: TCA123
Date Posted: 01 August 2007 at 7:33pm
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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.
What i don't like is Kolpak players and other young foreign players with international inspirations learning english conditions and taking places from English youngsters. Malinga, Powell to name but 2.
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Offspinner,
Right Arm Bat
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Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 02 August 2007 at 10:47am
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?
..
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Mental disintegration works for me !!
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Posted By: -JP-
Date Posted: 02 August 2007 at 11:14am
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.
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Posted By: TCA123
Date Posted: 02 August 2007 at 7:33pm
I don't blame the counties, not at all. I think allowing foreign fairly young players over here is ridiculous anyway. Yay lets strengthen our opponents!
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Offspinner,
Right Arm Bat
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Posted By: TCA123
Date Posted: 02 August 2007 at 7:34pm
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?
..
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Quick fix definately, you can't tell me these short term contracts allow a foreign player to remotely aid any english development.
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Offspinner,
Right Arm Bat
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Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 03 August 2007 at 7:16am
That's my take on it too. With the strength of sterling ,
your average South African journeyman just can't turn their noses up on
what's on offer .
That the counties can attract Australians too (and good
ones at that) gives some indication of the salaries being offered.
There's some evidence that youngsters playing
alongside experienced and talented ex-test players (like Langer) must
benefit , but how much benefit do the youngsters that don't make the side get?
The balance is wrong and getting that right
won't be easy. Ultimately the counties and the ECB must find a way of
keeping county cricket's standard high and bring on the youth of the
country.
No easy task in this age of, success now , the future can look after itself.
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Mental disintegration works for me !!
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Posted By: Clobber
Date Posted: 03 August 2007 at 9:12am
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?
..
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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.
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Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 03 August 2007 at 10:08am
Yes Clobs and most of them are no better than homebased lads.
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Mental disintegration works for me !!
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Posted By: Max Power
Date Posted: 03 August 2007 at 10:51am
Apart from they are cheaper?
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There's 2 ways of doing things - the right way, and the MAX POWER way!
BT&OBCC
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Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 03 August 2007 at 2:24pm
But the 2nd sides are being paid already , promotion to the 1st
team won't cost much. It must be quite demoralising for
youngsters , seeing strangers walking into the 1st side.
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Mental disintegration works for me !!
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Posted By: Max Power
Date Posted: 03 August 2007 at 3:59pm
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...
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There's 2 ways of doing things - the right way, and the MAX POWER way!
BT&OBCC
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Posted By: TCA123
Date Posted: 03 August 2007 at 8:11pm
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I must say i totally agree with overseas players, I see them as more necessarily, not only acceptable.
But like what Clobber said, its Kolpak players, ADDING to overseas players taking up 3 year contracts which are just wrong in my view. English talent shouldn't have to compete in it's own country with foreign players out to make a gain from English salaries.
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Offspinner,
Right Arm Bat
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