Wastemen etc

[StephenZA]

In 3 years Rillee could easily start playing for SA again if he no longer has a Kolpak deal, still young enough. Question is has he burnt his bridges with the CSA? Probably not, I think they are more understanding than people realize, regarding these issues. His timing was very unfortunate though....

 

[SeamUp]

In 3 years Rillee could easily start playing for SA again if he no longer has a Kolpak deal, still young enough. Question is has he burnt his bridges with the CSA? Probably not, I think they are more understanding than people realize, regarding these issues. His timing was very unfortunate though....

That's the problem. Has he burnt his bridges ? Probably under Domingo he definitely won't play again but if he returns and the senior players have retired and CSA need him and he wants to play I could probably see it.

But we should be watching a guy of this quality on the international stage at his peak.

 

[Dendarii]

That's the problem. Has he burnt his bridges ? Probably under Domingo he definitely won't play again but if he returns and the senior players have retired and CSA need him and he wants to play I could probably see it.

I think right now there's a bit of a sour taste around the way thing transpired - unlike Abbott he apparently hadn't given any indication that he was thinking of going Kolpak, and he let them know in an email rather than in person/a phone call. But when Amla, De Villiers, Du Plessis, and Duminy (all who are a similar age) decide to call it a day, I think enough time will have passed for everyone to be able to put this behind them, and it would be madness for CSA not to try to get him back.

But we should be watching a guy of this quality on the international stage at his peak.

I agree, but he has had the misfortune of playing at the same time as some very good batsmen - it's tough to break into an ODI batting line-up comprising De Kock, Amla, Du Plessis, De Villiers, Duminy, and Miller. And he was injured when there happened to be an opening in the test team, which resulted in Van Zyl and Bavuma being selected.

 

[StephenZA]

Rillee would definitely be playing in the ODI team at the moment particularly with the injury to Miller. And an injury to any batsmen in the test team would have probably given him spot... the problem (same for Abbott) is as long as there were no injuries a year ago they where sitting on the bench; And these deals were made/ started back then when it made sense. Possibly they would not have made them today with the opportunities given. Biggest reason why Domingo was upset is that they obviously had plans for Rillee and they stuck with him and kept him in the setup and just when he gets his chance he leaves... now they have to start fresh with de Bruyn.

 

[S.Kennedy]

I still cannot get my head around the recent Kolpack decisions. Playing for your country should be the highest honour. They are going to find themselves playing for Hants in a deserted Rose Bowl while South Africa play England at full capacity Lord's etc.

 

[fredfertang]

Weirdest name for a bloke I've heard since Lilian Thomson

 

[Marius]

Weirdest name for a bloke I've heard since Lilian Thomson

This guy has the best name of any professional cricketer.

Napoleon Einstein | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[ImpatientLime]

I still cannot get my head around the recent Kolpack decisions. Playing for your country should be the highest honour. They are going to find themselves playing for Hants in a deserted Rose Bowl while South Africa play England at full capacity Lord's etc.

honour doesn't put food on the table

 

[Tom Flint]

honour doesn't put food on the table

Lol i really hope ur on a wind up here.
As if riley and abbott wouldnt earn a very comfortable living by playing for s.a in the coming years

 

[Compton]

I wonder if cricket will eventually go the way of some other sports and over time the international game will become less and less important until the top players essentially don't play it anymore.

 

[SeamUp]

I think right now there's a bit of a sour taste around the way thing transpired - unlike Abbott he apparently hadn't given any indication that he was thinking of going Kolpak, and he let them know in an email rather than in person/a phone call. But when Amla, De Villiers, Du Plessis, and Duminy (all who are a similar age) decide to call it a day, I think enough time will have passed for everyone to be able to put this behind them, and it would be madness for CSA not to try to get him back.



I agree, but he has had the misfortune of playing at the same time as some very good batsmen - it's tough to break into an ODI batting line-up comprising De Kock, Amla, Du Plessis, De Villiers, Duminy, and Miller. And he was injured when there happened to be an opening in the test team, which resulted in Van Zyl and Bavuma being selected.

Can't argue with any of that although he was fit when van Zyl/Bavuma were given first goes in the middle order and I reckon he fancied himself over both of them.

I think what played a part also is he basically came into franchise cricket at 19 and kept on scoring runs with minimal failure (including a triple) and then backed it up with SA 'A' (double hundred v Aus and hundreds in Asia). So at 21 he was being spoken of as a Protea player but by 27 he still wasn't assured of his spot in both teams so a change in environment and financial security was an easy decision.

But coming back to the positive side. Lets hope by the time he returns that there is no animosity and a potential spot available. Love watching him bat and love watching him field. I think one of his great strengths is he can come in and from ball one it looks like he has been batting for 30 minutes already. That last sentence has been a weakness for him too though.

 

[SeamUp]

I wonder if cricket will eventually go the way of some other sports and over time the international game will become less and less important until the top players essentially don't play it anymore.

It's seemingly going that way.

Cricket was unique in that international cricket was the most exposed cricket world wide but now T20 leagues are taking over.
Football. Premier League/Champions League etc there was always more of those games and less internationals.
Same with Rugby. More Super 15 games played on tele than international test matches.
NFL, NHL, Basketball, Baseball - all about franchises. International level very little exposure.

 

[Tom Flint]

Im pretty sure there is more interest in footballs world cup/euros abd rugby's six nations/world cup than there is in any club rugby

 

[S.Kennedy]

I think Rugby is definitely still bigger internationally than domestically. I actually think Rugby is the best administrated of the three major sports (cricket, Rugby and football) but yes international football has definitely declined; It is a development that has happened in my life time. Doesn't help that the last few FIFA World Cups have been poor mind.

honour doesn't put food on the table

Not a Klingon warrior?

We have to assume these recent Kolpackers were on such a terrible wage before signing, a pre-Packer sort of slave wage (adjusted for inflation) for that argument to work.

 

[Tom Flint]

Yeah over the year round domestic football is bigger than international no doubt. But the pride for playing for your county still seems to be huge. Not many retire from intl until they are pretty much past their sell by date

 

[ImpatientLime]

I think Rugby is definitely still bigger internationally than domestically. I actually think Rugby is the best administrated of the three major sports (cricket, Rugby and football) but yes international football has definitely declined; It is a development that has happened in my life time. Doesn't help that the last few FIFA World Cups have been poor mind.



Not a Klingon warrior?

We have to assume these recent Kolpackers were on such a terrible wage before signing, a pre-Packer sort of slave wage (adjusted for inflation) for that argument to work.

heh

whilst he is unlikely to be on poor money playing for his country, hampshire can offer the security of a 4/5 year deal on 100k pa.

his place and as a result income playing for south africa is no sure thing due to factors other than his ability and merit.

 

[Marius]

heh

whilst he is unlikely to be on poor money playing for his country, hampshire can offer the security of a 4/5 year deal on 100k pa.

his place and as a result income playing for south africa is no sure thing due to factors other than his ability and merit.

Exactly. And if he's not playing for SA, he'll be playing for the Knights in the Sunfoil Series in Kimberley or Benoni, in front of zero spectators.

 

[morgieb]

Surely the only way to deter players giving up their country for counties via a kolpak move is to not allow any international return of players once they have made that decision

Well, they can't play internationals while a Kolpak. I don't think it'll be legally viable to add a clause like that post-contract.

 

[slippy888]

Dwayne Smith

I have just seen him smash a international caliber attack in this PSL game for 70 runs why this man not in West Indies team, is it politics stopping him.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

No, check out his record over the 148 internationals he has already had and you will find your answer there.