The Kolpak Effect

[flanflinger]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...re/5395680.stm

I have no doubt at all that one of the reasons that Darren Maddy, Leicestershires most consistent player over the last five years (IMO), is looking for a move, must be due to being over looked for the Captaincy and seeing HD Ackerman (a Kolpak selection) chosen as skipper two years ago.

Admittedly Ackerman did step down and Snape was handed the role this year, but it must really undermine a players loyalty to be over looked for a player only playing here on a technicality!!

[Vrock]

I completely agree with you ff. Maddy is probably ****** off as well because Leicestershire are struggling in the Championship and I'm sure it's the part of his game he would really like to progress at (for however long he plays).

It will only get worse in 2008; You throw out one overseas player and replace him with a Kolpak - laughable.

[Wanderer]

I really shouldn't even bother , should I?

[Alison]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

What can be done? Easy. Go back to the system of only 1 Kolpak player per county side. It is English cricket that is hurting English cricket. Go back to the drawing board and make things better for local players, not players who are there on a "technicality".

Unfortunately they can't - if they did any Kolpak player who was refused a contract on that basis could take the relevant county to court under EU employment laws because it would be illegal

[flanflinger]

Alison,

But they don't need to hire them. There is no compulsion to do so.

They do it because they think short term, but sadly many of the Counties will choose an average Kolpak over a home grown player. How many of the players on Kolpaks are Test class? Very few....

If a player like HD Ackerman is good enough, then make him an official overseas player, but if he isn't then pick a home grown player. If you don't then even the most loyal will look someowhere else.

[Wanderer]

Originally Posted by FF

But they don't need to hire them. There is no compulsion to do so.

And THIS is what my initial post was all about...

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

If a player like HD Ackerman is good enough, then make him an official overseas player, but if he isn't then pick a home grown player. If you don't then even the most loyal will look someowhere else.

I have to say, I was a big gutted Essex played Andy Bichel (old journeyman) to help secure the One Day league, when a quartet of young quicks were waiting to be unleashed - Westfield, Palladino, Ahmed and Chambers.

The fact that the original signing of Mitchell Johnson fell through meant that these guys got a go; but in the end we had the decidedly ordinary Andre Adams and Andy Bichel (accompanying the also decidedly ordinary Ryan ten Doeschate)

Obviously, I have no problem with Andy Flower. I'd pay to watch him any day, and apparently he helps with coaching; so no complaints there.

Anyway, Chambers (I think) was doing pretty well before Bichel turned up. Sure we won the one day league in the end, which was nice, but we didn't get promoted in the end. Anyway, rambling now... moving on.

[Pete]

It's not just Kolpak players that are the problem, the standard of overseas signed players is abysmal. We're just giving young foreigners a chance to play cricket and hone their skills - something that should be for OUR young players. Excuses about young English players not good enough or not ready is a poor one, considering the overseas players they sign.

Durham have even just signed Paul Wiseman FFS!

But anyway, a look at younger foreign players coming over here..

Dale Steyn. 14 first class wickets at 59.85, 4 ListA wickets at 24.25

Mansoor Amjad. First class: 52 runs at 26, 0 wickets for 102 runs. ListA: 18 runs at 18, 1 wicket for 45 runs.

Dan Cullen. 7 first class wickets at 54.42, 2 ListA wickets at 26.50.

Shaun Tait. 0 wickets for 176 - from 18 overs.

[Notts Exile]

Darren Maddy's form in County Championship cricket was not good. I believe he was even dropped due to him scoring insufficient runs - in Division 2 !!! 434 runs at 27 is hardly great form. In fact if you take away one ininngs in the C&G Trophy against Scotland he appeared to do very little outside of Twenty20.

At 32 he needs the move to avoid going completely stale.

[greg]

All these Kolpak players will eventually start to hinder the England side.Not yet as the players we have are strong but a few years down the line the youngsters won't get games and the standard will drop.

Perhaps we should take the counties to court for infringing our human right to watch English players in county cricket.