Derbyshire's Kolpaks

There has been a lot of comment in the media and social media regarding players getting Kolpak status and how this happens. It has come to attention again with our signing of Leus du Plooy.

It is first worth knowing that the term 'Kolpak' is a generic one. There are various ways in which players are able to qualify, but in terms of South African, Zimbabwe and West Indian cricketers, the key legislation is the Cotonou Agreement.

It means that citizens of countries that are part of European Union Association Agreements, free trade treaties between the EU and other countries, also have the right to work in the UK. This will likely end with Brexit.

The normal entry route for overseas professionals requires specific criteria to be satisfied, including having played a certain number of international matches. Without an EU passport, players need to have played a minimum of one Test match or 15 one-day and/or T20 internationals in the two years prior to the visa application. This was the original entry route into the country of Ravi Rampaul, who thus satisfies what is called 'tier five visa criteria' .

There are other options and Daryn Smit plays here under an ancestral rights visa, having a grandparent born in the UK before 1922. He is banded as a Kolpak, despite having made his home in Derbyshire and retired from South African cricket. By ECB regulations, he had to sign as a Kolpak to confirm that he had no plans to play in South Africa as a 'local', which does appear to be over-egging it a little.

As for Leus du Plooy, my understanding is that he has a Hungarian passport, which gives him those rights to work freely within the EU.

Like anyone else registering as a Kolpak, he had to sign a declaration which states that he has no intention to play cricket for any full member country, except England, at any time in the future. Nor seek to play any first class match in those countries, except as an overseas player.

It is reversible and from the top of my head, such names as Jacques Rudolph, Faf du Plessis and Ryan McLaren came here, did well, and elevated their claims to play for South Africa

I have no idea of the future plans of Leus du Plooy. He may opt to go down the same route as Duanne Olivier and qualify for England, but that requires playing for a county for seven years. He may play here for a few years and go home, like those above.

To a great extent it doesn't matter. All we can do is enjoy the entertainment while we have him and hope that it goes on for a long time to come.

Maybe he is the new Wayne Madsen.

We can only dream...