Ball "concerned" for future

New Professional Cricketers' Association Martyn Ball has claimed that the second overseas player will be detrimental to English cricket.

"The growing trend to include a secondary tier of overseas players, who qualify through European-born parents or grandparents, is a further worry", according to Ball.

"It is concerning all players in this country. It is the general opinion that we would like to see eight England-qualified players out there on the pitch. It may have to go back to one overseas player as the county championship is a development game for our Test team."

Gloucestershire off-spinner Ball, 32, who has succeeded Kent and England all-rounder Matthew Fleming as chairman of the PCA - the English cricketers' Union - believes that the second overseas player will stifle the growth of up-and-coming English talent.

It's a shame that Ball isn't paying the slightest bit of attention to the fact that six first-class sides - 66 players - is enough for Australia.

With 18 first-class sides - 198 players - this is comfortably enough for the élite to come through, if the county game wasn't so full of average players and journeymen.

Ball is only acting in the interests of his members, numerous amongst them journeymen and players who would never get a chance in Australia, veiled with concern for junior opportunities.

The overseas players will help young British players learn, and also attract bigger audiences to county games, thus providing much-needed income.



Posted by Neil