Louw returns to South Africa

[Paoli]

BBC Report

Northamptonshire have agreed to release pace bowler Johann Louw from his contract a year early so he can return to South Africa.

This is good news for South Africa; rarely to players return to that country after having received Kolpak contracts.

[Andy Mellon]

My understanding of Kolpak was that it'd be very difficult to just return to your native country and try to get in the international squad. I was of the knowledge that if you entered into a Kolpak agreement, you had to sign away your rights to play for your home country. Therefore, I expected some legal difficulties to arise if Kolpaks started to go home - otherwise, what's the difference between Louw - contracted as a Kolpak because he said he didn't want to play for SAF or Andre Nel who signed for Essex on a foreign player contract as he wanted to claim his place in the SAF squad!

Very confused about this!!

[Paoli]

The chairman for the franchise he is going to play for in South Africa, said in the report that "this increases the number of quality fast bowlers available for the 2007 World Cup".

[Teatime FatCat]

Yeah, but is he actually any good / anywhere near the SA side?

[John]

Originally Posted by Teatime FatCat

Yeah, but is he actually any good / anywhere near the SA side?

I don't know anything about him. Therefore I assume he can't be that good he is already 26. At this stage of proceedings SA have to try every option. SA cricket isn't brimming with talent at the moment. Maybe we can uncover one or two diamonds by trying a wide selection of players.
Pollock bowling is going downhill, Kallis bowling is shot so beggars can't be choosers.

[Teatime FatCat]

What about Nel (against my beter judgement!), Hayward, Steyn, DeBruyn, Hall, N'Gam, Zondeki and Kemp?

[Zainub]

And Charls Willoughby? I know he's 30 already, but he was very good when he bowled against England earlier this year.

[John]

Nel is now a reasonable Test bowler and Steyn has proved nothing as yet but will be given a chance.
Hall etc are all off the radar as far as Test quality goes. Most of them would do as average county bowlers.
So there are no immeadite replacements for declining Pollock and Kallis (who looks done with bowling).
Having said that the SA side will be no pushovers. Although being off the pace of the top two they will give all of the others a run for their money especially at home.

[Teatime FatCat]

John, what about Nel, Langveldt and Willoughby as back-up

[Zainub]

And Makhaya Ntini isn't a bad option by any means to have as first choice new ball bowler to partner Pollock.