Overseas players

There has been some interesting to and fro in the comments regarding overseas players and I thought I would take a look at that today.

I started watching Derbyshire before we had one. By the time that we recruited Chris Wilkins in 1970, Yorkshire stood alone in not allowing them to play for their county. For that matter, they wouldn't pick anyone born outside the county borders..too bad if you lived the 'wrong side' of Todmorden.

Over the intervening period I have been fortunate to see all of the greats who have come to this country. Many of them wore the colours of our county, but the game today has changed out of all recognition. 

We will never again see the genuine great players in the county game. Back then, Derbyshire v Gloucestershire might see Barlow and Wright v Procter and Zaheer Abbas, Sussex would turn up with Imran Khan and Garth Le Roux, Hampshire with Barry Richards and Andy Roberts. Almost every county had players deserving of the word 'legend' and I could still bore you rigid by reeling off the stellar names of each county in the 1970s and 1980s, for me the absolute pinnacle of the county game.

There are still a few and we should make the most of seeing Mohammad Abbas over the next two years, who shines like a beacon in this context. 868 first-class wickets at just 20 runs each confirms his quality and I am thrilled we have acquired his services. He still sees red ball cricket as being the pinnacle and it is heartening that Mickey Arthur himself continues to extol the virtues and standard of the county game in his interviews. 

Yet by and large, overseas players today fall into two categories. Most are some distance out of the thoughts of their country's national selectors and hope to change that, while others are seeking the opportunity to make a reputation for themselves.

I look around various supporter forums and smile at the names suggested for overseas 'gigs'. In recent months I have seen Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, a good few Indians, Quentin de Kock and numerous others mentioned. These fellas don't need county cricket, they are multi-millionaires, have central contracts that protect them and will never be seen in English county colours. Some might do an occasional short-term county stint, usually for a 'net' ahead of a Test series, but they can make far more money for less work in the various franchise leagues. Good luck to them, if the opportunity was there, we would all do it. 

I have thought for a long time that Ravindra Jadeja would have been an outstanding overseas professional, but he has a net worth of over ten million pounds, drives a Rolls Royce and wouldn't be keen to drive it from Derby to Chester-le-Street or Hove and bowl 25 overs on the last day, before heading home.

A look around the counties shows overseas recruitment is far from an exact science. Leicestershire have done well of late, but they have probably thrown more money at the likes of Peter Handscomb, Wiaan Mulder and Keshav Maharaj than debts of over £4 million justify. Hampshire recruited NINE different short-term players last year, with varying degrees of success. 

Northamptonshire did well out of Matt Breetzke, but probably wouldn't deem Tim Robinson (average 9) Lloyd Pope or even Yuzvendra Chahal (12 wickets at 46) a roaring success. Dane Paterson has been a fine bowler, but 11 wickets at 43 wasn't what Middlesex hoped for. Lancashire signed Anderson Phillip to shake up batting line ups, but 10 wickets at 45 wasn't in the script. Asitha Fernando did OK for Glamorgan, but was 24 wickets at 35 anything special? Pieter Malan has had a good career in South Africa, but Middlesex would have hoped for more than a batting average of 14 in 2023 from their opening bat. 

I could go on, but sometimes you have to wonder if there is greater long term benefit in using the money on the development of young players, or recruiting a role model senior pro from elsewhere. By the time you add up salary, accommodation, flights and a car, there is considerable risk in the signing of someone who *might* be a good fit. Or might not.. 

My point being that Mickey Arthur is far from alone in making mistakes with overseas players. We can all think back to a few who came over for Derbyshire through the years and were disappointing, but the overseas player role carries massive pressure, whether at club or county level. You need to fit into the dressing room, handle the language, get used to the new environment, perhaps get your partner and kids settled AND justify the considerable expense. 

Suranga Lakmal was too old and the grind too much. Haider Ali too inexperienced (and being asked to open didn't help). No one could fault the effort of Daryn Dupavillon or Blair Tickner, but while they huffed and puffed they didn't blow down enough houses. Their collective figures were OK, but you can get that from a decent player in this country. That overseas investment needs more, a batter averaging over forty and a bowler averaging under thirty as my minimum requirement. They should be at or near the top of the club averages, not lurking around the middle or languishing still lower.

The more you spend, the greater likelihood of success, but there are no guarantees. And the reality is that no one can spend enough to bring those REALLY big names here now, slogging around the country for six months when they can make much more for less travel and less inconvenience to their family life.

There will be some interesting and different names here in 2026. Supporters around the country will have great expectations.

Will they translate to reality? 

I will report back at the end of the season!