Pollock Signs for Durham (Twenty20)

[Collyisamackem]

Shaun Pollock has signed as a Kolpak for Durham's Twenty20 campaign.

Cricinfo - Pollock joins Durham for Twenty20

I know it's only for a few weeks, but with Pollock retiring from international cricket with bags of experience and enthusiasm for the game as well as strong performances so far in the IPL, this is a great coup. Since Durham have grossly under-achieved in Twenty20 so far despite our one-day success, this year's team really should do better. Think of this side:

Mustard+
Di Venuto
Coetzer
Collingwood/Wiseman/Breese
Benkenstein*
Morkel
Pollock
Plunkett
Onions
Harmison
Killeen/Davies

Our own talent (6/7 home players), a draw for top overseas talent (Morkel) and the highest use of Kolpaks I'd allow (3/4), and I'm impressed with Durham's management now. If we can develop a decent English spinner to replace Wiseman and Breese one day that'd be good, as I say that's the maximum for me with regard to Kolpaks.

[Notts Exile]

Mixed feelings. How many non-England qualified players should any team be able to field? On the other hand, Polly will improve the standard. My own opinion is that if one team is going to do it then they all should. That would mean Notts signing Flem on a Kolpak - something Newell has said he doesn't want to have to do.

[Collyisamackem]

I'd go for a rule of 3 or 4 max, probably 3. That way I don't see how it can be restraint of trade as it allows the Kolpak rule to be used and to limit the exodus of SA/NZ home talent to England, since it seems we can't avoid the Kolpak rule and I don't think it's terrible per se, save for when a team is full of them and our own players can't get a look in to prove themselves. At the same time we are protecting the number of domestic players, and allowing them to learn from decent Kolpak signings.

[darksideofthemoon]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

Mixed feelings. How many non-England qualified players should any team be able to field? On the other hand, Polly will improve the standard. My own opinion is that if one team is going to do it then they all should. That would mean Notts signing Flem on a Kolpak - something Newell has said he doesn't want to have to do.

Fleming would have to be from South Africa, Zimbabwe or one of the islands in the West Indies that has a trade agreement with the EU to be a Kolpak I think.

[Collyisamackem]

Actually, that's probably right unless Fleming has some kind of EU blood. I was thinking that because Hamish Marshall is a Kolpak for Gloucestershire (I don't know why, he's a poor cricketer) NZ players could be, but I recall now that he has an Irish passport. Michael Di Venuto has signed in a similar way with an Italian passport for Durham, which was an absolute steal.

Anyway, there can be no doubt that Pollock will add to the quality of English Twenty20 cricket - I know this game is more about power and short boundaries than skill, but there is still an element of skill and clever tactics and this will become more important over time. I'm all for a small number of quality Kolpaks, just not a plethora of rubbish ones like Marshall, Kruger (if I'm right, he is a Kolpak isn't he?) et al.