LEFT ARM OVER
NEIL MANTHORP: Saffers ubiquitous in the counties, but the England invasion began a long time ago
There are small but significant pockets of resistance and resentment in England to the wanton way in which counties have snapped up so many nonnationals, especially South Africans
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has tried all sorts of ways to stem the tide of South Africans playing in England since Maros Kolpak paved the way for sportsmen to play their trade (literally) within the EU. The ECB gave financial incentives to counties to select England-qualified players and fined them for using foreign players. There were above-the-table deals and under-the-table ''understandings". There were criteria created with the help of the UK’s Home Office, which issued work permits only to players with recent international experience (on the basis that foreign journeymen were no better qualified to play on the country circuit than English journeymen). Things may look and feel bad for the ECB at the moment, with eight recent Proteas players having forfeited their right to play international cricket in order to play domestically in England. But it’s nothing like a decade ago, when a nadir was reached — a match between Leicestershire and Northamptonshire was contest...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.