"Foreigners" for England

[high_on_linseed]

Those familiar with my recent postings will know how i feel about "foreign" english-qualified players - Im generally all for them, though I might draw the line at Stuart Law. I also note Kevin Pieterson was allowed to tour for England A, but is not yet qualified for the full team. Well that led me to thinking....whats to stop the ECB, or Team England, or whoever, including talented players like Ed Joyce of Middlesex, or Jonathon Trott of Warwicks (who will be England qualified in the not so distant future) in coaching sessions or academies right now? For example, what if Joyce just happened to turn up at the academy and had a bit of knock around with the other lads, picked up a few tips from the coaches, then went out to try them for Middlesex and Ireland? What Im saying is, where is the line drawn exactly? Does anyone know?

[Farmer Giles]

Afternoon HoL. I'm not really up to speed on who can qualify for England and who can't. I know that various players, Hick for example, have had to do a sort of apprenticeship for several years, but do they have to have British passports, or will the EU do now? Like you, I don't really see anything wrong with it. Let's get the best players we can. I suggest offering shedloads of money to the Aussie squad and getting them to abandon the baggy green caps for the backwards baseball hats of England. Only joking.

[Pete]

Does Ed Joyce want to play for England?

[Glamorgan Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Farmer Giles

Afternoon HoL. I'm not really up to speed on who can qualify for England and who can't. I know that various players, Hick for example, have had to do a sort of apprenticeship for several years, but do they have to have British passports, or will the EU do now? Like you, I don't really see anything wrong with it. Let's get the best players we can. I suggest offering shedloads of money to the Aussie squad and getting them to abandon the baggy green caps for the backwards baseball hats of England. Only joking.

Afternoon Farmer.

I think there is a difference between players who are qualified to play for England and players who the ECB are obliged to allow to play in county cricket as non-overseas players (EU passport holders etc).

If a player wants to play for England and is eligible I do not have a problem with him playing. It will usually be clear what the player really feels (I never thought that Andrew Symonds would choose to play for England over Australia in the same way that Phil Jaques was never going to renounce his Aussie status to enable him to play for Northants as a non-overseas player). Furthermore, I don't think it can be argued that players such as Robin Smith, Andrew Caddick or Allan Lamb were any less committed to England than the more conventional 'home grown' players.

However, I do draw the line at selecting players who have already represented one country at Test level (such as Law or Flower) and think that once you have played for a country you should not be allowed to represent another.

[Notts Exile]

I think there is still a qualification period even if you do have an English passport (which Pietersen certainly has, as his Mother is English). I assume Jonathan Trott is in a similar situation? Pietersen is in his fourth and final season of qualification, Trott must still have a while to wait. Caddick and Hick did the same, I think Robin Smith may have too.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Originally Posted by Glamorgan Wanderer

Afternoon Farmer.

I think there is a difference between players who are qualified to play for England and players who the ECB are obliged to allow to play in county cricket as non-overseas players (EU passport holders etc).

If a player wants to play for England and is eligible I do not have a problem with him playing. It will usually be clear what the player really feels (I never thought that Andrew Symonds would choose to play for England over Australia in the same way that Phil Jaques was never going to renounce his Aussie status to enable him to play for Northants as a non-overseas player). Furthermore, I don't think it can be argued that players such as Robin Smith, Andrew Caddick or Allan Lamb were any less committed to England than the more conventional 'home grown' players.

However, I do draw the line at selecting players who have already represented one country at Test level (such as Law or Flower) and think that once you have played for a country you should not be allowed to represent another.

I bet freddies glad we cant pick up some other countries has beens . Heath Streak or freddie flintoff ? Hmmmmmmm

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Glamorgan Wanderer

However, I do draw the line at selecting players who have already represented one country at Test level (such as Law or Flower) and think that once you have played for a country you should not be allowed to represent another.

hi G L

I have changed my tune,i used to like having the likes of Tony Greig,Robin Smith and Alan Lamb,in the England team,but I think the odds are stacked far to much against the home grown players,counties with their two overseas players,players having lived hear for a certain number of years,can get in the England team,call it a day,England players should be English I think.

[Glamorgan Wanderer]

Afternoon Ernest

You meant English or Welsh of course!

IMHO if a player is good enough he will be selected (either for a county side in the first instance or later internationally) wherever he happens to be from. I therefore think it is a bit of a red herring to say that 'foreign' players are coming over here and taking the places of home grown talent.

For instance, one of my younger brother's former team mates is playing for Glamorgan against Essex today.

[high_on_linseed]

Originally Posted by Hampshire Guy

Does Ed Joyce want to play for England?

Basically, yes

[high_on_linseed]

One of my questions is are players like Trott, and Joyce, who soon will be England qualified barred by ICC law from attending the academy, or being called up for England coaching sessions. And even if they are, arent there sneaky ways round it?