Players on the move....

And now Kyle Abbott has signed for Hampshire as a kolpak, too, turning his back on Test cicket despite Cricinfo's South African correspondent writing four days ago that "Abbott and Cook had been rewarded for not turning to England to further their careers."

There was some disbelief when I posted that A B De Villiers' central contract with CSA was only worth £120k per annum (although the figure will undoubtedly be doubled with sponsiorships and ensdorsements). But tha figure explains why South African Test cicketers such as Kyle Abbott give it up to become Kolpaks. Believe it or not, there is more money in playing county cricket than in playing international cricket for SA.

The issues here are threefold: the relatively weak South African economy, and consequently low salaries even for major stars; the progressive determination to ensure that colour quotas are represented in the same proportion as in the wider SA society; the protracted withdrawal of the UK from Europe, ensuring that the Kolpak principle remains uncontested. There isn't a single determinant behind all the cases this winter but a mixture of the three with different emphasis in each case based on age, Test experience and their own belief in how they can advance their careers.

Van Zyl, Harmer and even Roussouw might all argue that their international experience has got so far but no further, and they are all at an age when younger prospects may soon overtake them on the ladder. Why should they not want to secure three years of a prosperous future by signing for an English county rather than wait for others to retire, and perhaps to find that there are black or coloured players of equal ability contesting limited places? Viljoen had only just got into the side last year against England and could have gone further, but perhaps he was tempted by the offer that Derbyshire made him and that CricketSa could not match? Abbott has great prospects and is clearly in form, and if his agent is wise he has probably said to him "Look, at the moment you are trading a Test future for 3 years of double pay, but things could change. Once the UK Government is forced into a position where they have to do the deed and invoke Article 50, then soon enough companies and organisations in the UK will start contesting rulings such as Kolpak. It may be that in a year's time the principle has been broken, and if CSA comes up with a big sponsor to offer better salaries then they may be able to buy you out of that contract and you will almost certainly be welcomed back into the South African side, as du Plessis was himself and Rudloph before him. You really can have your cake and eat it"

The Times report this morning, by Richard Hobson, Deputy Cricket Correspondent. Interesting what is said about Stiaan van Zyl's contract by his agent , who also promotes Vernon Philander inter alia:


Uncertainty over Brexit has prompted an exodus of South Africa players to county cricket on Kolpak contracts, with more expected to agree terms before the start of the season. François Brink, who brokered Stiaan van Zyl’s move to Sussex, said that he advised the all-rounder to sign the three-year deal because the route may be shut once Britain leaves the EU.

Concerns within Cricket South Africa (CSA) at the loss of Test players have escalated amid reports that Kyle Abbott is close to joining Hampshire. CSA officials have sought talks with Weber van Wyk, Abbott’s representative, over the pace bowler, whose career has blossomed to the extent that he may spearhead the attack against England this summer.

Kolpak status precludes a player from representing his or her country and South Africa will be concerned over the future of Abbott, 29, who is opening the bowling in South Africa’s present Test against Sri Lanka.

As well as Van Zyl, who has played 12 Tests, the international pair of Hardus Viljoen and Simon Harmer have agreed Kolpak terms with Derbyshire and Essex respectively. Dane Piedt and Rilee Rossouw have been touted around the counties, while Stephen Cook, the Test opener, is also believed to be susceptible to approaches.

The director of cricket at one leading county reported a rush of interest from South African players and representatives at the end of last season before a quieter period leading into Christmas. “Brexit certainly made people ask questions,” he said. “There is a feeling, perhaps, that if you want that sort of player you should get him now.”

Brink, whose agency also manages Piedt, Vernon Philander, Ryan McLaren and Chris Morris, said: “When Stiaan was offered the chance to go as a Kolpak, we said, ‘Let’s take it because the opportunity may never come again.’ It was certainly a driver in his decision. Our advice to clients is that we have to keep Brexit in mind.

“Nobody knows what will happen, but I have to say that in all my time I have not met a South Africa player whose first ambition has not been to play for South Africa. You take that as far as you can, then adjust your targets accordingly.”

The “Kolpak” term comes from Maros Kolpak, a Slovakian handball player, whose victory in a Luxembourg court in 2003 allowed sportsmen from outside EU countries to be treated as though they were in the Union if their nation had a trade agreement.

An influx of South African cricketers abated when the ECB tightened regulations in 2009. To qualify since, a player must have either appeared in one Test during the previous two years, five in the past five, or in 15 white-ball internationals in two years. However, withdrawal from the EU may leave the Kolpak ruling redundant and block the route completely.


Other factors are also making moves attractive. The toughening of quotas in South Africa’s domestic game so that at least six non-white players feature in each franchise has reduced opportunities for white cricketers. Tony Irish, the chief executive of the South African Cricketers’ Association, also believes that soft currency is a factor.

“We pay in the Rand, which can devalue quite significantly from year to year,” he said. “If you go to England you are paid in pounds, and then dollars for the Twenty20 leagues overseas. A lot of players are going to where they are more valued financially. If there is a chance that Brexit will close the Kolpak loophole, you can see there might be this rush.”

In England, the Professional Cricketers’ Association is monitoring signings. David Leatherdale, the chief executive, said: “Immediately after Brexit, we looked at registrations and found 23 EU or Kolpak players out of 410,” he said. “If that suddenly grew to become an average of two or three per side it might become a concern.”

He suggested that the ECB’s Performance Related Fee Payments, which reward counties for fielding nine England-qualified players, will prevent a wave of imports.

An ECB spokesman said: “We await information on the legal situation post-Brexit and will need to hold detailed discussions with our stakeholders, the government and other sporting bodies before we can comment further.”

A loan for the first half of the 2017 season from Middlesext to Northants for Under 19s player Max Holden www.middlesexccc.com/news/2017/january/holden-joins-northants-on-loan/

Good quote from Gus Fraser: "We believe he is ready to get a taste of first eleven cricket and are happy to loan him to a county that will, in the short term, provide him with a better chance of achieving this goal."

Both altruistic and realistic, because that is what the Second division will become, a nursery for promising young players to mix in with the seasoned hacks and learn the skills they will need when they play at the top level.

Not according to Cricket Archive. He played for Stirlands in 2008, but after that for Teddington in the Middlesex Premier League from 2012 to 2014.www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/383/383817/383817.html

Yep, same link, Brother: WMP Gubbins. That would be the Gubbins at Stirlands.

More Kolpak news from Lancashire, who have signed Dane Vilas, South African Wicketkeeper-batsman, and Shiv Chanderpaul. Chanderpaul played for Lancashire in 2010, gaining his cap and scoring 698 runs at 53.69. He has also played for Derbyshire, Durham and Warwickshire.

Vilas is 32, another who broke into Tests late but hasn't been able to cement a place. His first-class record is fine, averaging a fraction short of 40 and dismissing 290 batsmen in 97 matches, but Lancashire may be even more impressed with his List A and T20 strike-rates of 95.09 and 122.59 respectively.

www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/91033/lancashire-sign-chanderpaul-dane-vilas-on-kolpak-deals