Kolpak-tastic

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I see Derbyshire are trouncing Essex at Chelmsford ! Could this be the first victory since 1857 for Derbyshire ??

[Zainub]

Not if God listens to my prayers

[Andy Mellon]

I really Essex don't fail against Derby****e. It would be an abject failure if Essex lose. Promotion would go out the window really.... Up the Eagles!!!

[Teatime FatCat]

Yes, right up the eagles!

[Milo]

......and Ackerman scored a ton for Leicestershire yesterday. That will please one and displease another on this board.

[flanflinger]

HB Ackeman scoring a century does not displease me... just gets on my nerves that if he is taht good why is he not one of the two official overseas players... why does he have to use a back-door rule to get into the side...

[Rachael]

I don't know that I've ever seen a report suggesting that Ackerman is anything other than a very talented batsman... but everyone seemingly agrees that he's very good at getting himself out quite unnecessarily. His Test record is indifferebt.... but so is that of Hick, Ramprakash and Maynard... and they certainly haven't hurt county cricket!

I'm prepared to believe that some of the Kolpak players are less able.... but I'm always a touch cautious about that sort of allegation: I trust that counties aren't so clueless / rich as to make completely bizarre selections!

[flanflinger]

Fine, but if he is good enough (one century doesn't really prove that) why does he have to use the Kolpak route?

Still not convinced he should be Captain though...

[Teatime FatCat]

Originally Posted by Rachael

I don't know that I've ever seen a report suggesting that Ackerman is anything other than a very talented batsman... but everyone seemingly agrees that he's very good at getting himself out quite unnecessarily. His Test record is indifferebt.... but so is that of Hick, Ramprakash and Maynard... and they certainly haven't hurt county cricket!!

He's not related to Boeta 'Ooops there goes my wicket again' Dippenear is he? Sounds like his biog.

[Milo]

Maybe he didn't have to use the Kolpak route. The Kolpak route allows counties to pick more than two quality international players. The mere fact they picked him as a captain means they probably thought he was good enough. If I was in charge of a county (without the talent of Surrey), I would look at getting two good proven oversees players (like Murali and Hussey) and one or two Kolpakers of the ability of Ackerman. This would improve the standard of the side and still leave open 7/8 places for home grown talent.

Where I agree with you FF is in that there are some pretty woeful ones over here....but they should not be all tied together. There are some pretty ordinary EU qualified players in the Premiership but there are also some pretty handy ones at Chelsea, Arsenal etc.

Different rule, same argument.