Kolpak Influence Grows As Glamorgan Sign Kruger

What with all the chaos surrounding English cricket over the last couple of months, one small piece of news might have slipped under the radar.

In December Glamorgan, the Welsh county for whom 2009 will be undoubtedly the biggest year in their history, signed their first "Kolpak", or overseas player. Gernett Kruger, the 31-year-old former South African fast bowler, moved south from Leicestershire to bolster what has long been a failing team.

It is now almost 12 years since Glamorgan won their last county championship and they have struggled near the bottom of the second division in both formats of the game in the last couple of seasons.

Despite their failings, they had so far persisted with a policy of employing only English qualified players, complimented by their quota of oversees stars. It was a policy which was much admired but imitated by very few as the top counties increased the number of "Kolpaks" on their staff, effectively (or so the argument goes) in place of young English talent.

It is sad but unsurprising that Glamorgan have opted to end their ambitious policy. The club have a fantastic, brand new stadium complete with permanent floodlights and host their first Test match, the opening Test of the Ashes series, in June.

They have also inevitably accrued debts during the process of joining the elite few Test playing grounds. Indeed in some quarters, the belief was that the youth policy was only put in place because the finances to compete with the bigger counties for domestic and oversees stars was simply not there.

Glamorgan’s Cricket Manager, the former England assistant coach Matthew Maynard defended the move into the "Kolpak" market, stressing that the signing of Kruger was born of the need to stay on "an even footing" with the other counties for whom Kolpaks have become king-pins of the sides.

Leicestershire, from whom Kruger was signed, are one of the counties who have received the most criticism for fielding a disproportionate number of Kolpaks. However, for those such as Leicestershire who have no income from international fixtures and a relatively small pool of local talent to choose from, the foreign players represent the chance to compete at a higher level and against the bigger, richer counties.

The theory is that those good enough to forge successful careers will be able to make it into the first team regardless of who they are competing with. Stuart Broad, the young England all-rounder, made his debut at a young age for Leicestershire and was given the kind of opportunities that many claim are being denied for young talent.

Others stress the point that there are too many first class counties in England to start with and that, even with the presence of Kolpak players, the national team has more than enough players to choose from.

Undoubtedly, the standard of county cricket has been lifted by the presence of what are mostly South African pros and whose experience and professionalism has rubbed off on the modern game.

The introduction of a second division has also been cited as a key turning point in the professional game and, with attendances up by 23% for the 2008 season and Twenty20 showing longevity to back up its initial success, county chairman are reluctant to tow the line of English only players.

The ECB has attempted to curb the influx with reductions in funding for the worst culprits and they have also approached the EU in an attempt to close the loophole but to little effect.

Instead, the only decision under their control has been to cut the number of official oversees players each county is allowed from two to one.

Those keen to keep Kolpaks within the county game argue, with some success, that the sheer number of professional counties in England means that, even with the non-qualified players, there are still far more players available to the selectors than in countries such as Australia.

However, this is tempered by the criticism that the Kolpaks are often far more trusted and used much more willingly by captains in the crunch moments of games; particularly one day matches. Negative press is also given to the fact that the county game creates too much opportunity for a comfortable, well paid career where journeymen, whose international prospects are minimal, take up further places in the team.

There can however be a good balance struck between home-grown talent and imported players. The presence of world class foreign players in the domestic game is overwhelmingly perceived as soliciting a positive effect both on and off the pitch.

For instance Durham, current county champions, have produced a succession of England internationals and highly rated youngsters since their inception in 1991. They have also strengthened their squad with a select few experienced players whose effect on the club has been little but positive.

Dale Benkenstein has led the county superbly and Otis Gibson, the former West Indian fast bowler, has graduated from the Durham bowling attack to the post of England bowling coach.

Whether Glamorgan will follow the lead of Leicestershire or Durham is yet to be seen but it is saddening to see a county feel it necessary to abandon what had been a refreshing and idealistic policy.

Whatever happens, Garnett Kruger will have a lot to live up to.