Should Cricket Get a Transfer System?

[brandon]

You must be logged on to see external links

Completely disagree with Atherton on a few points.

“The argument that his [Coughlin’s] move should prompt cricket to introduce a football-style transfer system, or even a transfer window, lacks logic."

No it doesn't, it is perfect logic. County cricket exists to serve the national side, if clubs can just sign up anyone they want, whenever they want, how is that going to improve the England side?

"The game, in its financial state, can neither sustain one, nor should it want to introduce a system that would further strengthen the competitive advantage enjoyed by bigger, wealthier clubs and possibly, as an unwanted consequence, restrict player movement."

I disagree, I think it would actually share the wealth better. Along with the salary cap, it would mean the clubs that spend time on nurturing players would be suitably rewarded for their efforts. Whereas those who can't be arsed to produce their own - would have to fork out a lot of money to build their team.

Again, more reliance on homegrown talent is only good for the national side.

"Ultimately, the system may be imperfect, and may need tweaking so that the performance-related fee payments to counties incentivise them further than is the case at present for producing and playing home-grown cricketers."

Fully agree with that mind. Counties need far more reward than they currently receive for local/homegrown players.

I'd even take this further, I'd even suggest that the lawmakers need to do something to outlaw the kolpaks. I believe each county should be made to field no fewer than 8 Englishmen per game - the way that could be done, to avoid dodgy passports, is similar to how it's done in international Ice Hockey. The player must have to have spent 2/3 years here during his development.

Sides like Hampshite and Sussex (there are others) make a mockery of it with their kolpaks. That for me is the worst thing in county cricket and the biggest factor in holding back our national side. I'm not totally against the idea of foreigners playing as Englishmen - but it's going too far at some clubs.

I'd even consider raising the number of overseas players allowed - because atleast then there's likely to be more transparency instead of counties playing 7 Saffers as Englishmen. Granted that's a slight exaggeration.

 

[TheRey]

I'm in favour.

I do think it's wrong that we were able to take Rocky and Borthers - as bad as he's been - for nowt. I know there'll be a few cynics who'll say "you're Surrey! You can afford whoever, of course you'll be in favour" etc, but it's not about that. If a club develops a player, nurtures him, develops him... It's only just that that club receive a significant amount of money when he moves on. It's as simple as that.

 

[viccarlton]

You must be logged on to see external links

I'd even take this further, I'd even suggest that the lawmakers need to do something to outlaw the kolpaks. I believe each county should be made to field no fewer than 8 Englishmen per game - the way that could be done, to avoid dodgy passports, is similar to how it's done in international Ice Hockey. The player must have to have spent 2/3 years here during his development.

Sides like Hampshite and Sussex (there are others) make a mockery of it with their kolpaks. That for me is the worst thing in county cricket and the biggest factor in holding back our national side. I'm not totally against the idea of foreigners playing as Englishmen - but it's going too far at some clubs.

I'd even consider raising the number of overseas players allowed - because atleast then there's likely to be more transparency instead of counties playing 7 Saffers as Englishmen. Granted that's a slight exaggeration.

I kind of agree with your suggestions mainly the minimum requirement of Englishmen in our County sides, the bit I'm slightly in disagreement with is the Kolpak players, for me such an agreement shouldn't exist, also I don't agree at all with *foreigners* playing for England.
I know my views will by many be regarded as archaic, I've never claimed to be right or always correct in my opinions but they are what they are.

 

[wayne entwhistle no9]

Great post Brandon and two of the most important points why counties are actually killing themselves and the county system.
The amount of players who are playing county cricket who where not involved in schools or youth cricket (u17) in this country is staggering. Quite a few counties have neglected grass roots cricket and developing local players to such an extent that they would collapse if they had to rely on their own.

 

[Bri]

I'm almost of the opinion that we should look at what football does .... and do the opposite.

We should have no (modern day) Chelseas, Man. Utds etc in cricket and by that I mean clubs that buy success rather than develop it themselves and I think cricket clubs should be grounded in their local area.

That said, of course, if a player moves County some compensation for the development effort put in does seem fair. So, maybe an adjudication panel who sits and decides on a compensation amount depending on things like age of the player and effort the academy put in in developing him.

Generally I'm in favour of things like playing budget caps and the ECB making sure the playing field is as level as it can be across the County Championship so that all Counties have a chance in the competition.

But I also think players joining clubs mid-season or especially towards the end of the season has a sticky whiff about it. Brathwaite joining Yorks for instance.

 

[Silly Point]

In our defence re Brathwaite. He was only signed as a replacement for Marsh, who was called back to Aus at short notice.

 

[Parkside]

I'm almost of the opinion that we should look at what football does .... and do the opposite.

We should have no (modern day) Chelseas, Man. Utds etc in cricket and by that I mean clubs that buy success rather than develop it themselves and I think cricket clubs should be grounded in their local area.

That said, of course, if a player moves County some compensation for the development effort put in does seem fair. So, maybe an adjudication panel who sits and decides on a compensation amount depending on things like age of the player and effort the academy put in in developing him.

Generally I'm in favour of things like playing budget caps and the ECB making sure the playing field is as level as it can be across the County Championship so that all Counties have a chance in the competition.

But I also think players joining clubs mid-season or especially towards the end of the season has a sticky whiff about it. Brathwaite joining Yorks for instance.

Totally agree but I think you need very rigid rules regarding compensation payments. Certainly wouldn't trust FTECB adjudicating on such matters. Surrey, of all clubs, have put a proposal on the table for the next counties meeting that compensation should be set at double the salary that the poached club had offered the player e.g. Notts would have to play double whatever salary Durham had offered Coughlin in the latest negotiation. At present there's a general agreement that half the annual salary is paid.

 

[brandon]

Totally agree but I think you need very rigid rules regarding compensation payments. Certainly wouldn't trust FTECB adjudicating on such matters. Surrey, of all clubs, have put a proposal on the table for the next counties meeting that compensation should be set at double the salary that the poached club had offered the player e.g. Notts would have to play double whatever salary Durham had offered Coughlin in the latest negotiation. At present there's a general agreement that half the annual salary is paid.

I'd go further than double personally, I'd be inclined to compensate on the grounds of how much money it cost the club to 'develop' the talent they're looking to poach.

In football you often hear of prices paid for transfers being based on the projected worth of a player taking into account 'potential', so for me, potential should be taken into account too regarding any compensation.

I kind of agree with your suggestions mainly the minimum requirement of Englishmen in our County sides, the bit I'm slightly in disagreement with is the Kolpak players, for me such an agreement shouldn't exist, also I don't agree at all with *foreigners* playing for England.
I know my views will by many be regarded as archaic, I've never claimed to be right or always correct in my opinions but they are what they are.

The only problem with stopping Kolpaks is that it is way over the head of cricket collectively. It basically comes under European law and even when we leave the EU there's no way our government will stop foreigners coming in trying to earn a living.

Perhaps by allowing 2 or possibly even 3 overseas, which I know is not ideal, the cricket authorities could indirectly reduce the number of Kolpaks. At times it has been a positive thing, but I fear it has gone too far now. It's a joke that South African Test players can come here and play as Englishmen and it's even worse when clubs are signing absolutely mediocre Kolpaks instead of fielding their own local players.