Do Changes Need to Be Made to The English County System?

[aussie_ben91]

The chances are the Kolpak players would be more likely to lead a team to silverware, so it would be stupid not to pick them. What we can't do, under European law, is block Kolpak players being employed.

Can't you make a limit on Kolpak players?

 

[Skater]

Can't you make a limit on Kolpak players?

The ECB would be powerless to enforce such a limit. Any sports player from a country in the European Union, or one with an associate trading relationship with the EU, can freely play as a professional in any EU nation. One thing the ECB has done is base its central payments to counties on the number of English qualified players representing a county. Basically, for every game a Kolpak keeps out an Englishman, the county loses ?1,100. There isn't much else they can do.

 

[aussie_ben91]

The ECB would be powerless to enforce such a limit. Any sports player from a country in the European Union, or one with an associate trading relationship with the EU, can freely play as a professional in any EU nation. One thing the ECB has done is base its central payments to counties on the number of English qualified players representing a county. Basically, for every game a Kolpak keeps out an Englishman, the county loses ?1,100. There isn't much else they can do.

Why can't the ECB make a law where the Kolpak get paid extremely poorly? Surely that could kill off the Kolpak problem?

 

[Skater]

Why can't the ECB make a law where the Kolpak get paid extremely poorly? Surely that could kill off the Kolpak problem?

Again, powerless. It would be discrimination in the workplace based on nationality, as well, which would lead to court cases.

 

[aussie_ben91]

Again, powerless. It would be discrimination in the workplace based on nationality, as well, which would lead to court cases.

Well, then they should raise the penately price from $1,101 to something like $50,000 or raise it high enough so that countys can't afford to play them. Can they do that?

 

[Precambrian]

The Kolpaks wouldn't be playing though because as I stated only players eligable to play for England.

Dividing the best 80 odd players into 6 different squads would be better then the current method of having over 300 players fitted into 18 different squads. If you do the math, the difference between the top 10 domestic players compared to the 80th best player is closer then then the top 10 domestic players compared to the 300th.

Not only would the competition be more competitive and more beneficial but the discipline for all of the players involved would increase and character would be built, which would be needed for the rigours of International cricket in pressure circumstances. Why? Because players would be fighting and working harder for their spots instead of being handed county contracts on a silver platter. You've got to make the road to county cricket tough, if you want results.

They should compile a draft similar to the IPL, but just of players eligable to play for England, with the best 80 players being selected and going from there. Devise a new fixture system and get rid of Pro40, less of Twenty20 and focus more on First-Class & List-A cricket. The Kolpaks can go play club cricket.

Having something like 4 u/25 players in a team is a rubbish idea, because if anything... that's going to make county cricket even MORE weaker. If they aren't that good or if the captain doesn't have faith in them, then the captain will most likely underplay them during matches and the whole idea will go down as a complete waste of time. What you need to understand is that you've got to make the competition STRONGER for improvement, no weaker. Get the very best players playing against eachother. Don't leave potential players dangling in Division 2.

Kolpaks cannot be done away with. They are eligible for play under EU regulations, and there is nothing counties can/will do not to pick them.

Precambrian added 1 Minutes and 45 Seconds later...

Well, then they should raise the penately price from $1,101 to something like $50,000 or raise it high enough so that countys can't afford to play them. Can they do that?

Counties will be up in arms against such a discriminatory ruling. It would be the equivalent of the American Govt imposing huge penalties on American Companies hiring Alaskans.

 

[Skater]

Well, then they should raise the penately price from $1,101 to something like $50,000 or raise it high enough so that countys can't afford to play them. Can they do that?

It's not really a penalty as such. What can be done is raise the central payment for playing England qualified players. If it raised dramatically, though, it would be obvious that it was to discriminate against Kolpaks, and there would be room for them to sue. Counties such as Northamptonshire and Leicestershire would probably go bust because of the heavy losses since they have a lot of Kolpaks, and they would be up in arms about it.

 

[Kev]

If they really want to get good young English players in, they need to look seriously at grass roots level cricket. Specifically in 'regular' high schools (They are called High Schools these days aren't they??). Most probably a wealth of talent not playing the game but sucking at football.