This post is prompted by the Derbyshire team sheet for the opening championship match vs Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens:

AG Botha
JDC Bryant
KJ Dean
AI Gait
Hasan Adnan
Mohammad Ali
CJL Rogers
SA Selwood
MA Sheikh
*+LD Sutton
G Welch

Now, admittedly, this is Derbyshire (no offence!), but 6 players in a team of 11 who aren't qualified to play for England? Come on now, seriously. At least two of them are bona-fide overseas players, (Adnan and Ali, with Adnan having the highly respectable first-class batting average of 44.35). But look at the absolute dross that is playing in this game:

Hasan Adnan (29, turns 30 on May 15th), Pakistani overseas player. Right Hand Hat, averaging 44.35 from 59 first class games.

Mohammad Ali (30), Pakistani overseas player. Left Arm Fast Medium, Right Hand Bat, averaging 32.97 with the ball and 11.03 with the bat from 80 first class games.

Ant Botha (28), South African EU Passport holder (I assume). Slow Left Arm, Left Hand Bat, averaging 30.05 with the ball and 20.10 with the bat from 44 first class games.

James Bryant (28), another South African who plays as an overseas player in SA. Right Hand Bat, averaging 35.91 from 70 first class games.

Andrew Gait (26), Zimbabwean-born Sooth Efrikan released by Eastern Province after declaring himself an overseas player in order to accept a contract with Derbyshire as an EU qualified player. Right Hand Bat, averaging 28.08 from 49 first class games.

Chris Rogers (26), Australian formerly of Western Australia and Shropshire. Has played for Australia A, and was sent on an Australian Cricket Board "Assimilation Tour" of India in March 2003, "the trip is part of the ACB's annual assimilation tours, which provide promising Australian cricketers the opportunity to train and play under the unique conditions of the sub-continent.". The 12 man party also included Michael Clark, Damien Wright, Mike Hussey and Brad Hodge - all of whom are there or thereabouts as far as being in the queue for the aussie Test side goes. Right Hand Bat, averaging 42.28 from 34 games.


Now, my point is thus: I don't have a problem with the Andy Flowers and Stuart Laws of this world playing County Cricket and not being qualified for England, be it on EU passports or as proper overseas players. Guys with first class batting averages of 52.30 and 51.22 should be welcomed in with open arms. If you're a youngster trying to get into the side or some county circuit journeyman, you're going to have to buck up your ideas to compete with that. I would put it forward that the Flowers and Laws of this world weed out the week in CC, and raise the standard. The same could be said to apply to Messrs Adnan and Rogers above. However, what I do have a problem with is the absolute dross that is being let in through this avenue.

Take this Andrew Gait chap - a batting average of 28.08 from 49 first class games. Twenty Eight??? Why did Derbyshire feel the need to sign this clown in the first place? Surely, there must be some English youngster who can average better than 28. Mohammad Ali, an average of 32.97 with the ball from 80 games - far from world beating, in fact it's not even good! Ant Botha, again mediocre with bat and ball. James bryant, 35 odd with the batt, surely someone with a bit of talent should be averaging more than that in first class cricket.

Yes, I am fully aware that South Africans and Australians can be brought in and paid less than English players as the cost of living is lower in those countries. But why do we have to import mediocre cast offs from other Test playing countries? That is the real question.

Your last line tells the story. It's probably cheaper to import somebody from abroad than nuture home talent. Home talent will have to buck up it's ideas or dissapear.
I think opening the game of cricket could be a good move for 'cricket' but a contraverial move for 'english cricket'.People have said that the game will suffer, precisely because of the type of situation you state from Derbyshire. I think this situation will go either way, it will either
1)
backfire on Derbyshire because of imported player quality and they'll lose matches because of no quality, (and hence members,spectators and sponsers) or
2)the ragtag bag of cricketing wannabee's they've assembled will perfom, and other counties will import players .
Do Derbyshire advertise for players, because under equal oportunity legislation any young "English" lad/lass with a better average could claim a place! Could
Derbyshire be the "Chelsea of cricket?"
Right now county chairmen are probably watching and waiting. But I think most counties have invested in youth structures and policies and want a return on that inestment. Getting a player in the squad who plays for England attracts interest and revenue as sponsers and spectators come to watch . However the player often gets picket during important matches for said county and the county suffer;
Take Kent, who have this season moved away from the overseas emphasis and will now concentrate on Kent lads/lasses , and have a Kentish coach. Geraint Jones (nice Kentish name is Geraint!) gets picked for England and Kent suffer.

Ultimately English cricket has to balance the opportunities of the introduction of newmy valid players with th threats of the situation. EU employment law rightly or wrongly has given them acess to the game.
Many people have said the dirth of English fast bowlers in the eighties was due in part to nearly every county having an overseas fast bowler. Certainly, Derbyshire had Holding in 88, Gloucestershire had Walsh in 90, Sussex had Imran Khan in 78 and Notts had Hadley in 80, all of whom still hold bowling records of some form at those respective counties and so made their mark.
If I remember, England had Devon Malcolm,Gus Fraiser, Gladstone Small, Philip "daffy "defraitus, Chris Lewis, Graham Dillie etc as front line bowlers in the 80's/90's so I'm not sue how much water the argument holds.
However there is a lack of spinners within the English game at the present time, and that can't be due to overseas players involvement, but rather to the perception of cricket by young players as a 'boring all afternoon game .' (quote by my nephew!)

I've put him right about that perception, but I suspect that cricket is played in too few schools today and that most youngsters are involved in football or other sports.

Why do we have to import low quality players from overseas? Well EU employment legislation is the answer. But I think it's a decision Derbyshire will rue, and I can't see the county winning any medals with tha little lot!
And Derbyshire will have less chance of any players being picked for England, which could affect income, either way.

However, if you're a team in Holland (or Other EU countries,) you will pick these players ,because they'll strengthen your squad.

i'm not sure how many professional teams there are in the EU.

Admin - Link to original thread in the England forum: EU Passport Players