What do our Surrey supporters think of this, I wonder ?
He's in the 15 man squad for tonight's game but he's played 57 matches since he last turned out for them and 91 of his last 100 games have been for England or other franchises. I know that Alec Stewart was talking about giving him a 6 month contract instead of a 12 month contract but I would have thought that a 6 week contract would cover his commitment to Surrey.
What do our Surrey supporters think of this, I wonder ?
He's in the 15 man squad for tonight's game but he's played 57 matches since he last turned out for them and 91 of his last 100 games have been for England or other franchises. I know that Alec Stewart was talking about giving him a 6 month contract instead of a 12 month contract but I would have thought that a 6 week contract would cover his commitment to Surrey.
He's effectively a white ball only player now, which means in reality the only domestic cricket he'll play is in the T20 and Hundred, which is like many international white ball players now (e.g. Moeen and Rashid)
In the last 4 years, Roy has played 192 games made up of:
England - 86 Surrey - 20 Franchises - 86
Franchises made up of:
Pakistan Super League - 21 The Hundred - 14 Indian Premier League - 13 Big Bash - 12 South African T20 - 11 Mzansi Super League - 7 Bangladesh Super League - 4 Abu Dhabi T10 - 4
In the last 4 years, Roy has played 188 games made up of:
England - 86 Surrey - 20 Franchises - 82
Franchises made up of:
Pakistan Super League - 21 The Hundred - 14 Indian Premier League - 13 Big Bash - 12 South African T20 - 11 Mzansi Super League - 7 Abu Dhabi T10 - 4
England call ups would also have affected his domestic appearances. This summer is the first one for a while with no England white ball games until later summer.
He's effectively a white ball only player now, which means in reality the only domestic cricket he'll play is in the T20 and Hundred, which is like many international white ball players now (e.g. Moeen and Rashid)
Exactly but as we can see from the figures above he's averaged just 5 games a year for Surrey for the last 4 years. So, he plays for England half of the time and various franchises, of which Surrey happens to be one of them, the rest of the time - his US side will be his 11th such team in those 4 years.
Roy has pulled a muscle in the warm up so won't play tonight. Alec Stewart's point a couple of weeks comes true - one of their players plays around the world, comes back, gets injured, Surrey play for his rehab and he then goes off to play in the US. Morgan defends 12 month contracts but then he would because he's not having to pay those contracts. These are free lance franchise international cricketers and should be paid when they play. The money has to come from somewhere and when the Director of Cricket at the richest county in the land raises it as an issue then think of the implications on the smaller ones of them guaranteeing an income, come what may, for a year.
He's effectively a white ball only player now, which means in reality the only domestic cricket he'll play is in the T20 and Hundred, which is like many international white ball players now (e.g. Moeen and Rashid)
Exactly but as we can see from the figures above he's averaged just 5 games a year for Surrey for the last 4 years. So, he plays for England half of the time and various franchises, of which Surrey happens to be one of them, the rest of the time - his US side will be his 11th such team in those 4 years.
No different from any other England white ball only player though, playing in the leagues, and away with England for much of the time. That's the reality of white ball cricket, and ECB incremental contracts are chicken feed in relation to the riches out there.
Though I was amused by the relegation, I'm far more annoyed by Joe Root playing golf with Piers Morgan in a pro-am instead of playing for Yorkshire in the crucial championship match last September.
He's effectively a white ball only player now, which means in reality the only domestic cricket he'll play is in the T20 and Hundred, which is like many international white ball players now (e.g. Moeen and Rashid)
Exactly but as we can see from the figures above he's averaged just 5 games a year for Surrey for the last 4 years. So, he plays for England half of the time and various franchises, of which Surrey happens to be one of them, the rest of the time - his US side will be his 11th such team in those 4 years.
No different from any other England white ball only player though, playing in the leagues, and away with England for much of the time. That's the reality of white ball cricket, and ECB incremental contracts are chicken feed in relation to the riches out there.
Though I was amused by the relegation, I'm far more annoyed by Joe Root playing golf with Piers Morgan in a pro-am instead of playing for Yorkshire in the crucial championship match last September.
I'm not saying that it's any different but they should be regarded as England and franchise cricketers so far as contracts are concerned. Root playing golf has probably a bit more to do with what was going on with Yorkshire at the time but, again, he went to the IPL to sit on the sidelines and collect the money rather than play for Yorkshire if only as practice for the upcoming Ashes. Both are well within their rights to do so but I don't think their respective counties should be fooled where their allegiances lie. They are no more county cricketers than an overseas playing here might be - in fact most overseas will play more for a county than Roy will for Surrey and some will play more in one season than Roy has in four - and it was interesting that Roy rather re-affirmed that by not mentioning Surrey once in his statement.
Roy is just the start but the game has to find a way to manage it. The ECB thought that by re-inventing the wheel they would do that but, ironically, that competition prevented the likes of Roy from playing more for his county.
Freelance English cricketers sounds like a slippery slope if you want to keep the counties together.
Everyone knows that Roots workload is to a certain extent controlled by England , but he is a Yorkshire cricketer. It would be a sad day if he was hawking his talents around the counties for the highest bidder.
Freelance English cricketers sounds like a slippery slope if you want to keep the counties together.
Everyone knows that Roots workload is to a certain extent controlled by England , but he is a Yorkshire cricketer. It would be a sad day if he was hawking his talents around the counties for the highest bidder.
These players have no loyalty , nay love for their counties, despite JR's "heart rending" words.
Jimmy Peirson has been added to the Australian Ashes squad as Josh Inglis will be leaving after the First Team for the birth of his child. Peirson played in the Kent League for Bexley and we could see three in total in the Australian side who have played in the KPL as Smith (Sevenoaks Vine) and Labuschagne (Sandwich Town) did so too.
Freelance English cricketers sounds like a slippery slope if you want to keep the counties together.
Everyone knows that Roots workload is to a certain extent controlled by England , but he is a Yorkshire cricketer. It would be a sad day if he was hawking his talents around the counties for the highest bidder.
These players have no loyalty , nay love for their counties, despite JR's "heart rending" words.
Basically, they're just mercenaries IMO.
I'm afraid that this is the changing face of cricket. Financially, cricketers have always been in the shadow of their footballing counterparts and it is difficult not to understand that. What I don't like is the idea that they can have their cake and eat it - rely on an underpin of a very lucrative England contract (anything up to £1m) and then dictate when and where you are going to play for your country. Equally, they have to be recognised as England and franchise players as they have no more an allegiance to their county than they do to their team in the Pakistan Super League. Though it was at their county that they developed their game.
The irony of this is that we could still see a benefit year for some players. They are just unlikely to be white ball players. For example, someone like Rory Burns will never be a white ball superstar - he's only played 68 T20s in his career compared to 179 First Class games and although he has played 32 Tests he is unlikely to command the sort of career earnings that his white ball counterparts do. Equally, despite him playing for the odd franchise, I would still describe Darren Stevens as a Kent legend because he was available to play for us throughout his career here and didn't go off and play in the IPL or the US franchise in preference - and with the likely demise of The Hundred the US comp will clash with our domestic competitions.
Freelance English cricketers sounds like a slippery slope if you want to keep the counties together.
Everyone knows that Roots workload is to a certain extent controlled by England , but he is a Yorkshire cricketer. It would be a sad day if he was hawking his talents around the counties for the highest bidder.
These players have no loyalty , nay love for their counties, despite JR's "heart rending" words.
Basically, they're just mercenaries IMO.
I'm afraid that this is the changing face of cricket. Financially, cricketers have always been in the shadow of their footballing counterparts and it is difficult not to understand that. What I don't like is the idea that they can have their cake and eat it - rely on an underpin of a very lucrative England contract (anything up to £1m) and then dictate when and where you are going to play for your country. Equally, they have to be recognised as England and franchise players as they have no more an allegiance to their county than they do to their team in the Pakistan Super League. Though it was at their county that they developed their game.
The irony of this is that we could still see a benefit year for some players. They are just unlikely to be white ball players. For example, someone like Rory Burns will never be a white ball superstar - he's only played 68 T20s in his career compared to 179 First Class games and although he has played 32 Tests he is unlikely to command the sort of career earnings that his white ball counterparts do. Equally, despite him playing for the odd franchise, I would still describe Darren Stevens as a Kent legend because he was available to play for us throughout his career here and didn't go off and play in the IPL or the US franchise in preference - and with the likely demise of The Hundred the US comp will clash with our domestic competitions.
Stevo may have been a Kent legend, but I'm sure he wouldn't have turned down an IPL contract if offered one.
As for Rory Burns, since he lost his England central contract he's been so poor, he now can't afford to get his hair cut. I assume that's the reason anyway
Stevens wouldn't have turned down an IPL contract but I'm sure had he hawked himself out a decade ago to all and sundry he would have got better terms at another county. Equally, some players, though, will pretend that they've turned down an IPL contract in order to play for their county even though they have not got a cat in hells chance of getting one.
Freelance English cricketers sounds like a slippery slope if you want to keep the counties together.
Everyone knows that Roots workload is to a certain extent controlled by England , but he is a Yorkshire cricketer. It would be a sad day if he was hawking his talents around the counties for the highest bidder.
same with jimmy and broad etc. It's also why central contracts do a lot more good than harm imo.
There are any good things and some bad things about central contracts. Anderson and Broad almost certainly wouldn't still be playing without them.
But there is a new problem that didn't exist when they were invented and needs a bigger solution. I have no idea what the solution is BTW.
It's white ball only players. The counties produce them but then what?
If they are any good they will never play for the county outside a very short window. The one day cup is now a second rate comp and they can't/won't/shouldn't be paying franchise wages for the blast because its not worth that sort of money.
Central contracts had a place but they are outdated now. We cannot afford to pay them to all those players who might play for England. And we cannot afford not to pay those a competitive wage to those who do play for England. How does one reconcile say Archer being paid a central contract of £700k for not playing but someone who isn't centrally contracted is paid just the £5k match fee? This was the issue in trying to attract someone back to Test cricket like Moeen Ali when he wasn't centrally contracted and was also a gripe of Bairstow when he played and wasn't centrally contracted. With more and more players, including those centrally contracted, choosing when they are prepared to play for England they serve little purpose.
Those that commit to England should be rewarded and by that I would suggest, off the back of a fag packet, for Test matches £20k each time they make a Test squad and another £30k for every Test they play. So, if Brook were to play in all the Ashes Tests then he would receive £250K. For T20s/ODIs it might be £5k plus £15k so £20k in total.
Central contracts have helped Anderson and Broad lengthen their career but we really shouldn't kid ourselves that had they been ten years younger and offered £1m to play if the IPL that they wouldn't have been off in a flash. England cannot compete with the IPL and if the likes of Brook opts to play for the money then they cannot stop them. But they can compete with the counties and it wouldn't be expensive, by comparison, to compensate them if and when players are required by their country be it to play or if England want them to rest. Equally, unless we support the counties then the pathway will totally break down and there will be no cricketers coming through the system.
I'm at Merchants Taylor school to watch Middlesex play Glos. A lovely facility, they even have an especially brewed Taylor's ale in the beer tent.
A bit different from my school, it does show why so many cricketers are privately educated...
Seb has played their a number of times for Kent. And never won there either. Nearest he got was as an Under 11. He made a duck and the side were 78 all out on a pudding of a wicket. And Middlesex were all out for the same score!
Another time they played there, the year above were playing each other - Josh de Caires (Atherton's son) captained Middlesex and George Ealham, son of Mark and grandson of Alan, captained Kent.
Comments
Time for a red card !
England - 86
Surrey - 20
Franchises - 86
Franchises made up of:
Pakistan Super League - 21
The Hundred - 14
Indian Premier League - 13
Big Bash - 12
South African T20 - 11
Mzansi Super League - 7
Bangladesh Super League - 4
Abu Dhabi T10 - 4
Though I was amused by the relegation, I'm far more annoyed by Joe Root playing golf with Piers Morgan in a pro-am instead of playing for Yorkshire in the crucial championship match last September.
Roy is just the start but the game has to find a way to manage it. The ECB thought that by re-inventing the wheel they would do that but, ironically, that competition prevented the likes of Roy from playing more for his county.
Basically, they're just mercenaries IMO.
The irony of this is that we could still see a benefit year for some players. They are just unlikely to be white ball players. For example, someone like Rory Burns will never be a white ball superstar - he's only played 68 T20s in his career compared to 179 First Class games and although he has played 32 Tests he is unlikely to command the sort of career earnings that his white ball counterparts do. Equally, despite him playing for the odd franchise, I would still describe Darren Stevens as a Kent legend because he was available to play for us throughout his career here and didn't go off and play in the IPL or the US franchise in preference - and with the likely demise of The Hundred the US comp will clash with our domestic competitions.
As for Rory Burns, since he lost his England central contract he's been so poor, he now can't afford to get his hair cut. I assume that's the reason anyway
But there is a new problem that didn't exist when they were invented and needs a bigger solution. I have no idea what the solution is BTW.
It's white ball only players. The counties produce them but then what?
If they are any good they will never play for the county outside a very short window. The one day cup is now a second rate comp and they can't/won't/shouldn't be paying franchise wages for the blast because its not worth that sort of money.
Those that commit to England should be rewarded and by that I would suggest, off the back of a fag packet, for Test matches £20k each time they make a Test squad and another £30k for every Test they play. So, if Brook were to play in all the Ashes Tests then he would receive £250K. For T20s/ODIs it might be £5k plus £15k so £20k in total.
Central contracts have helped Anderson and Broad lengthen their career but we really shouldn't kid ourselves that had they been ten years younger and offered £1m to play if the IPL that they wouldn't have been off in a flash. England cannot compete with the IPL and if the likes of Brook opts to play for the money then they cannot stop them. But they can compete with the counties and it wouldn't be expensive, by comparison, to compensate them if and when players are required by their country be it to play or if England want them to rest. Equally, unless we support the counties then the pathway will totally break down and there will be no cricketers coming through the system.
A bit different from my school, it does show why so many cricketers are privately educated...
Another time they played there, the year above were playing each other - Josh de Caires (Atherton's son) captained Middlesex and George Ealham, son of Mark and grandson of Alan, captained Kent.
The marketing men won't understand it, but watching cricket at an outground is one of the pleasures of the English game.
I'm going on Friday. The game should hopefully last that long!
Think we will do the Aussies 3-1
😉