The influence of Maros Kolpak

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Oct 12, 2008

By Will 3 years ago, at the end of September Leave a comment on this post

Most county followers are familiar with the name Kolpak, and its derivatives (Kolpakers, Kolpakians, and less savoury ones). News came today (although it was first mentioned back in April) that the ECB are to curb the numbers of foreign players in the county game, by way of a reward/penalty scheme. My thoughts on this and more are up at Cricinfo.

Thoughts welcome.

Tags: county-cricket, cricinfo, ECB, england, maros-kolpak |

Comments to “The influence of Maros Kolpak” Zainub wrote:
September 28th, 2005 at 10.37 pm

I’ve read a few discussions on this topic on cricket forums I visit, and the consensus amongst English fans seems to be a positive one, that this is a correct, long awaited move, that should in the long run be in the better interests of English Cricket. One would have to imagine though, that a team like Derbyshire, for instance would have to do serious recruiting if they’re to avoid massive penalties.

Will wrote:
September 28th, 2005 at 11.35 pm

Well, yes, of course. Although I think “developing younger players” would be a more appropriate phrase than “recruiting.” That’s the problem: they are recruiting EU players as though they are running a business (which yes, ok, they are essentially doing). My hope is this blueprint will be another step towards producing quality international players for England, and raising the standard of the domestic game.

Saurabh Wahi wrote:
September 29th, 2005 at 10.31 am

Good move. I hope we don’t have these kolpak player going to the European court over this decision…

Zainub wrote:
September 29th, 2005 at 10.45 am

Can they do that? I mean seriously, are they entitled to take legal action?

Bishop Odo of Cluny wrote:
September 29th, 2005 at 10.46 am

I hope I’m wrong, because I want to see the number of Kolpak players reduced. But how is this lawful? Surely the governing body of a profession is not entitled to levy what is in effect a duty on the labour of EU workers? Isn’t that a) a decision only a Government is allowed to make and b) a restraint of trade contrary to the original decision in the Kolpak case?

Like I say, I hope I’m wrong, but I can see this being an easy target for a challenge in the European courts.

Alex Holland wrote:
September 29th, 2005 at 11.06 am

So did Ed Joyce, who’s had to play here for some years to qualify for the England team, play on a Kolpak contract?

While I agree with this in principle, and think it will encourage the developent of lots of young talent, it would be a pity if players who will -eventually- be England qualified are priced out the market.

Imagine a 2005 Ashes without KP, for example… (although I presume he was down as a foreign player, not Kolpak)

As for the poorer teams feeling the pinch first, it may benefit them in the long run. If the ECB are to ratchet the prices up each year, by the time it becomes financially inviable for the richer clubs, the poorer clubs will already have a lot of homegrown talent. It’s just possible the rich clubs will get caught on the hop.

That, or they’ll just sign up all the promising English players from the poorer clubs. Either way, it’s good for the national game.

Saurabh Wahi wrote:
September 29th, 2005 at 12.59 pm

I think the ECB have left themselves open to legal action by putting this ‘penalty’ clause on the counties as this might be viewed as unfair practice.

Would it not have been better if the ECB would have turned it around and put a ‘bonus’ clause for having english qualified players in the Playing XI!

No legal loophole there I guess. Or am I wrong?

Jonny wrote:
September 29th, 2005 at 7.17 pm

I have mixed feelings about this. For years critics have been wailing about there being too much mediocrity in county cricket. I haven’t seen too much county cricket over the last couple of years but I would have thought that the Kolpak players have improved the overall standard of the game. At the same time they’re not going to prevent the really talented English players coming through, and benefiting from playing in a more competitive environment. As a point of comparison, the massive influx of foreign players into the Premiership doesn’t seem to have prevented high quality English players coming through (although for whatever reason they do seem to have trouble playing together!)

Innocent Abroad wrote:
September 29th, 2005 at 8.42 pm

Taking Test and ODI squads together, David Graveney needs to find - what - three players a year?

That’s asking each county to unearth a Test class player once every six years. Doesn’t sound much, does it? The problem probably isn’t so much “Kolpak” in itself as in conjunction with Alex’s point in [6] - is it worth a “poor” county investing in a youth policy if its successes have to be sold on…

I should have though that the ECB is acting legally - the “fines” will come out of its subsidy to the counties - if a county reckons it can stand the loss it can field an entire Kolpak XI if it likes

Geoff wrote:
September 30th, 2005 at 1.59 pm

The Ed Joyce point is a good one, as Ed Joyce is an EU national, he never was a Kolpak player - which refers to sportsmen from countries outside the EU but with associate agreements with the EU which, among other things, guarantees their workers the same rights as EU workers. And EU workers have the right to work in any EU state without being discriminated against because of their nationality.

This rule, whether it is a bonus or a fine, offers financial inventives for counties to discriminate against workers when considering to whom they should offer contracts. At least as far as I see it, but I am most definitely not a lawyer.

As for me, I’m against this decision, for exactly the same reasons as Jonny. The county game has plenty of England-qualified players, and if non-England-qualified players increase the standard and the level of competition (which they seem to be doing), how is that detrimental to development?

Finally, does anyone know how this ruling applies to Scotland?

Will wrote:
October 9th, 2005 at 5.38 pm

Some interesting and poignant remarks, thanks to all.

drwggrace wrote:
March 8th, 2006 at 1.02 am

The new scheme is a rewards scheme where by the ecb pays counties for video tapes of all england qualified players. in practice it is a way of cutting kolpak players but legally they are doing nothing wrong.

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The influence of Maros Kolpak