Just a thought, but..

There's a telling comment in the middle of Andrew McGlashan's piece on Cricinfo tonight.

Talking about Chris Rogers, he says "The ECB are completely right to try and block the influx of random players from abroad, but precluding the likes of Rogers from doing a sterling job for a small club shows the chink in the system."

He's right, of course and a comment from someone on this blog a few months back is equally relevant. As things stand, a very average cricketer from Zimbabwe or Bangladesh with a few international appearances for a weak side could come and play county cricket next year, while a journeyman pro of outstanding talent and professionalism like Chris Rogers will not be able to do so. Rogers, of course, is penalised by being Australian at a time when they have outstanding batsmen everywhere you look. Even their retired ones have taken the IPL by storm, but by any yardstick Rogers is unlucky to have only a solitary Test appearance in an excellent career.

If part of the idea is to make the overseas players of a high standard, surely it would make sense to award a visa through a cumulative points system, much the same as in a tendering process?

Consider this.

Have you the requisite number of international appearances? (10 points if yes)
Have you played in the UK in the previous 5 years? (5 points per year played)
Have you made, as a batsman, 1,000 runs in the previous season? (10 points)
Have you averaged over 50 with the bat? (5 points)
Have you averaged under 25 with the ball? (5 points)
Have you taken, as a bowler, 50 wickets in all competitions? (10 points)
Have you featured in the top three of your county's Most Valuable Player rankings? (10 points)
Have you held another role with the county? (15 points for captain, 10 for batting/bowling coach)
Have you played a minimum of 75% of the previous season? (10 points if yes)
Can you commit to the same in the coming season, barring injury? (10 points if yes)

The questions and figures could be up for discussion, but if an existing county player could total, for argument's sake, 50 points, they could then be recommended for a visa by the ECB. We would then see a player of talent earning a return contract. Those of lesser ability would not. While there may be potential to rig the scoring (make an average player captain? Surely not...) the principle would at least ensure that the wheat was separated from the chaff if sufficient time was put into the scoring matrix.

Sure, I want to see Chris Rogers in a Derbyshire shirt, but I'd quite like to see County cricket as it used to be. If the proliferation of international knockabouts means the best of the best cannot play, surely the next plan should be to get the highly talented and committed in to teach good habits and set examples? Seeing counties have three players sharing overseas duties does no one any favours. It does little for attendances, has marginal effect on teams and often has a detrimental effect on the players, who cannot acclimatise properly.

First time players would, of course, have to satisfy the existing regulations, but this sort of scheme might ensure that their potential return would be dependent on a solid season in which their reputations and their team's fortunes might well benefit.

Worth a thought?