Yes it's not where they were born that is a problem, there is a huge difference between Stokes, NZ born but developed in the English system and Keaton Jennings, captained the SA under 19's, then came over as the complete article
The worry is that as long as there is a conveyor belt of oven-ready, good quality but not outstanding, SAFFERS to fill the gaps, then the need to fundamentally fix the current development programmes can be delayed, but what happens if the conveyor belt stops.
Some of the blame must fall on CI, but also need to look how the ICC is distributing their funds
In my youth I was very left-wing, now think Socialism only works in a family, and Cricket should act like a family. The money should go to does who need it most, as long as they do not piss it up the wall buying Tesla's and more admin.
On yesterday's TMS the interval feature was interviews of Scottish players and admin describing how the current funding structure is leading to the strangulation of their development programmes and senior fixtures
On a familiar theme, they also pointed out ECB's failure to help, no fixtures since 2019 (which Scotland won), at least their players can play for the counties.
I can see the value in the ‘overseas’ players coming into Irish cricket. Logically if they are better than the current crop it raises the standard of domestic cricket which consequently improves players or develops a stronger new crop of players at inter pro level.
However with the current domestic season being as it is, glorified friendlies around a sparse international season, that theory doesn’t really work.
How likely does the domestic season containing Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands look at this point?
It would make sense alright to raise the overall standard. Which to an extent it does, but we saw last year when the Irish internationals were away, even with overseas players the standard of the interpros went down the drain. Given the monetary problems of all three of those boards, that goal of 2027 international interpros looks like a pipe dream. I think there is a world where that pan-European domestic tournament works better than the ETPL because local fans are more likely to buy-in. But if foreign investors can't get involved in a franchise competition, I can't see the funds coming in for a domestic, pumped up interpros
I don't think Ireland should overly worry about this, at least for the moment.
Here I am in England with it's well funded 18 1st class counties, multiple aged teams and a frequently used A and Lions teams
And yet despite this look at England's current white ball squad
Carse, Betnell and Archer, all born and bred outside of this system.
I cannot hope to name the scores of similarly qualified overseas players who have represented England since I first stating following Cricket since 1981. If I ever get bored one day I will try and make a list starting in 1982 with Ian Grieg (Tony's younger brother) up to today's Betnell, better make sure I have a thick pad of paper and a scorer's set of pens and pencils.
Also Ireland is not like some of the Middle-Eastern associate nations, that seem to be entirely filled with Ex-pats from the Indian sub-continent
My concern is how the numbers of these players will negatively effect the motivation of players developing within the Irish system
Now if one of these South Africans were the next Pietersen or Pollock then there is no debate.
However, for me, sometimes an overseas players is chosen, who could, at best, be described as marginally better than an Irish equivalent, for example, I am not sure why van Woerkom was picked ahead of Humphreys or even Dockrell.
And although I am ignorant of the Irish club scene, I am sure that the 7 chosen for the Wolves tour weren't ALL clearly better than some local, and now demotivated, player who was left out.
On its own, I agree that foreign-born players aren't an issue. Thankfully, I think most people would now agree. Especially with players such as Neill, coming over young, playing U19s, investing in the pathway and the country. The issue is overall numbers. Against West Indies, five of the overall squad were born in SA. The Wolves had 7 out of 15 come from the SA system. In isolation, this isn't a bad thing, but if people see Irish pathways being cut and foreign players growing, they will question if the priorities are right. Investing in pathways lets young players from all countries who enter the system flourish. Admitting that the Irish pathways have failed since losing county cricket is a good thing if it leads to proper investment, not if the solution is to import young South Africans who have a leg up because they've spent the first 18 years of their life training in better facilities with more access to top coaches
Yes it's not where they were born that is a problem, there is a huge difference between Stokes, NZ born but developed in the English system and Keaton Jennings, captained the SA under 19's, then came over as the complete article
The worry is that as long as there is a conveyor belt of oven-ready, good quality but not outstanding, SAFFERS to fill the gaps, then the need to fundamentally fix the current development programmes can be delayed, but what happens if the conveyor belt stops.
Some of the blame must fall on CI, but also need to look how the ICC is distributing their funds
In my youth I was very left-wing, now think Socialism only works in a family, and Cricket should act like a family. The money should go to does who need it most, as long as they do not piss it up the wall buying Tesla's and more admin.
On yesterday's TMS the interval feature was interviews of Scottish players and admin describing how the current funding structure is leading to the strangulation of their development programmes and senior fixtures
On a familiar theme, they also pointed out ECB's failure to help, no fixtures since 2019 (which Scotland won), at least their players can play for the counties.
I can see the value in the ‘overseas’ players coming into Irish cricket. Logically if they are better than the current crop it raises the standard of domestic cricket which consequently improves players or develops a stronger new crop of players at inter pro level.
However with the current domestic season being as it is, glorified friendlies around a sparse international season, that theory doesn’t really work.
How likely does the domestic season containing Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands look at this point?
It would make sense alright to raise the overall standard. Which to an extent it does, but we saw last year when the Irish internationals were away, even with overseas players the standard of the interpros went down the drain. Given the monetary problems of all three of those boards, that goal of 2027 international interpros looks like a pipe dream. I think there is a world where that pan-European domestic tournament works better than the ETPL because local fans are more likely to buy-in. But if foreign investors can't get involved in a franchise competition, I can't see the funds coming in for a domestic, pumped up interpros
I don't think Ireland should overly worry about this, at least for the moment.
Here I am in England with it's well funded 18 1st class counties, multiple aged teams and a frequently used A and Lions teams
And yet despite this look at England's current white ball squad
Carse, Betnell and Archer, all born and bred outside of this system.
I cannot hope to name the scores of similarly qualified overseas players who have represented England since I first stating following Cricket since 1981. If I ever get bored one day I will try and make a list starting in 1982 with Ian Grieg (Tony's younger brother) up to today's Betnell, better make sure I have a thick pad of paper and a scorer's set of pens and pencils.
Also Ireland is not like some of the Middle-Eastern associate nations, that seem to be entirely filled with Ex-pats from the Indian sub-continent
My concern is how the numbers of these players will negatively effect the motivation of players developing within the Irish system
Now if one of these South Africans were the next Pietersen or Pollock then there is no debate.
However, for me, sometimes an overseas players is chosen, who could, at best, be described as marginally better than an Irish equivalent, for example, I am not sure why van Woerkom was picked ahead of Humphreys or even Dockrell.
And although I am ignorant of the Irish club scene, I am sure that the 7 chosen for the Wolves tour weren't ALL clearly better than some local, and now demotivated, player who was left out.
On its own, I agree that foreign-born players aren't an issue. Thankfully, I think most people would now agree. Especially with players such as Neill, coming over young, playing U19s, investing in the pathway and the country. The issue is overall numbers. Against West Indies, five of the overall squad were born in SA. The Wolves had 7 out of 15 come from the SA system. In isolation, this isn't a bad thing, but if people see Irish pathways being cut and foreign players growing, they will question if the priorities are right. Investing in pathways lets young players from all countries who enter the system flourish. Admitting that the Irish pathways have failed since losing county cricket is a good thing if it leads to proper investment, not if the solution is to import young South Africans who have a leg up because they've spent the first 18 years of their life training in better facilities with more access to top coaches