New Zealand Off Season 2014

[Kippax]

 

[Howsie]

From reading a couple of interviews it doesn't actually sound like he's leaving NZ cricket, although I could be wrong.

 

[Kippax]

http://static.ecb.co.uk/files/488section1-1606.pdf

(b) he has not, within the 12 months leading up to April 1st
immediately before the season in question, either played
cricket for any Full Member Country outside the EEA at
U17 level or above, or played First Class Cricket in any
such Full Member Country except as an overseas
cricketer under local rules similar to ECB Regulation 3
(Unqualified Cricketers), or in any other circumstances
approved by the ECB.

So come April 2015 that would be pertinent to Cachopa I think, unless Auckland play him as an import.

 

[straw man]

I find Cachopa's decision to abandon ship a bit strange. Maybe he was just put out by being snubbed for the NZA tour - but then again that's a tour with a strong limited overs focus that's clearly working towards the 2015 World Cup, so being left out really shouldn't be discouraging for your longer term prospects. With McCullum set to retire in a couple of years time tops (and maybe as little as 6 months), and the number 6 spot still a long way from being truly settled, you'd have thought that there's some decent incentives for a talented young middle-order bat (especially one who averages 50+) to hang around for a while longer. One more season averaging 45+ would probably have been enough to push him into serious contention.

Yes I agree - when I tried to think of other domestic batsmen pushing for NZ 5 or 6 position, for my post in the KW thread, Craigchopa was the only batsman that sprang to mind. I don't know how good he will be but he is young and has a good record so far.

 

[Flem274*]

Yeah his technique looks a bit hard and mechanical to me aesthetically but anyone who can average 50+ in the Shield in their early 20s, even if they play all their home games on the motorway, deserves a good look. The Colins' enjoy a good road trip but Cachopa is a lot more serious about technique than either Colinrounder, and he bats higher in the order.

 

[Kippax]

.

Andrew Alderson
11:35 AM (10 minutes ago)

Thanks Kippax. Much appreciated.

Will follow up this intriguing Portuguese passport issue which I presume allows him to play under the Kolpak clause while sacrificing NZ ambitions?

Andrew

 

[Bahnz]

Heh, great stuff Kippax. If his goal really is to play both sides and use the threat of his defection as a bargaining chip for an early NZ callup, then this little tip-off might place him in a very awkward position. And even if he really is set on leaving, then it'll be good just to know

 

[Bahnz]

In a semi-related note, is it perhaps time for a significant increase in the salaries for domestic cricketers? As far as I'm aware, they've been pretty much stagnant since 2008. Inflation means that their retainers are worth about 10% less than they were 6 years ago, and the NZC has made some serious dosh from a couple of India tours since then. I don't know whether it's financially possible, but a 15-20% pay rise for domestic cricketers seems reasonable from an outsiders point of view.

 

[RxGM]

In a semi-related note, is it perhaps time for a significant increase in the salaries for domestic cricketers? As far as I'm aware, they've been pretty much stagnant since 2008. Inflation means that their retainers are worth about 10% less than they were 6 years ago, and the NZC has made some serious dosh from a couple of India tours since then. I don't know whether it's financially possible, but a 15-20% pay rise for domestic cricketers seems reasonable from an outsiders point of view.

Not going to happen as agreement NZC-NZCPA agreement is tied till 2018

I did some googling and found this

http://www.procricket.co.nz/nzcpa/Master_Agreement_2010-2018_FINAL.pdf

If you go to page 55 you will see the Domestic Players payment, pg 54 has international

 

[hendrix]

They get a match bonus as well, right?

Honestly shocked when I saw those numbers a while ago.

 

[NZTailender]

Craig Cachopa, from what I've seen, seems like someone who could succeed in the awkward-to-ugly-batting-technique school of players like Chanderpaul or Collingwood. Sometimes get the feeling when certain players like this try to fix their flaws, they try and correct them to be in the textbook style rather than being in the context of their own, unique style, which can work against them. Could really be a serviceable player at #5 in both formats.

 

[RxGM]

They get a match bonus as well, right?

Honestly shocked when I saw those numbers a while ago.

Yip a couple of years ago it was $1500 per FC, $700 List A and $500 T20.

Compared to international which in a recent article Alderson did listed the match fees at $8000 Test, $3500 ODI, $2300 T20I

 

[hendrix]

Yip a couple of years ago it was $1500 per FC, $700 List A and $500 T20.

Compared to international which in a recent article Alderson did listed the match fees at $8000 Test, $3500 ODI, $2300 T20I

Thank god for that. Still not exactly great pay but enough.

 

[Bahnz]

Right, so if you're a top ranked domestic player who's a regular in all 3 formats like James Franklin, you might just about get to $65k.

 

[hendrix]

Right, so if you're a top ranked domestic player who's a regular in all 3 formats like James Franklin, you might just about get to $65k.

It seems as though the understanding is that you're supposed to get work in the offseason.

Pretty hard to get consistent work when you can only be there half of the year. You also have to maintain the fitness and skill levels of a professional athlete. Could possibly work a 9-5 job and keep relatively bowling and batting fit, but chuck a family in there...

 

[BackFootPunch]

It seems as though the understanding is that you're supposed to get work in the offseason.

Pretty hard to get consistent work when you can only be there half of the year. You also have to maintain the fitness and skill levels of a professional athlete. Could possibly work a 9-5 job and keep relatively bowling and batting fit, but chuck a family in there...

Yeah I imagine the tough thing is making the money last through the winter. During the cricket season you'd feel like you were raking it in compared to most jobs but come the end of March you've gotta get through to October by any means necessary.

 

[hendrix]

Yeah I imagine the tough thing is making the money last through the winter. During the cricket season you'd feel like you were raking it in compared to most jobs but come the end of March you've gotta get through to October by any means necessary.

I imagine they'd stagger the retainer across the year, with just the match bonuses coming during the season. Would make the tax bloody annoying though; constant automated letters from IRD I bet, and a big claim at the end of the financial year.

Budgeting wouldn't be nice either.

 

[Prince EWS]

I imagine they'd stagger the retainer across the year, with just the match bonuses coming during the season.

I think you'll find this isn't the case.

 

[hendrix]

I think you'll find this isn't the case.

it's a salary though. Weird.

 

[BackFootPunch]

I imagine they'd stagger the retainer across the year, with just the match bonuses coming during the season. Would make the tax bloody annoying though; constant automated letters from IRD I bet, and a big claim at the end of the financial year.

Budgeting wouldn't be nice either.

As PEWS noted, pretty sure you get the whole lot during the season. So you're employed for 6 months then on your own until the next round of contracts.

A lot of guys go overseas and make some decent money that way, club cricket in England seems to be alright if you can get a good deal. Otherwise it's coaching or finding a job that suits the cricketer's lifestyle.