South Africa players deserting SA for the Pound

[RH156RH]

Note : Foreign players are taking around one third of the places in Championship Cricket, a total of around 60. That deprives English players of a great deal of opportunity. But it is not only that immediate loss of opportunity which damages England. The money going out of the English game to foreign players is considerable, viz:
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"The biggest loss of all, however, was surely Duanne Olivier who, at the age of 26, signed a Kolpak deal with Yorkshire worth £150,000 a year. "

Even if the average pay for foreign players is £100,000 that would be £6 million There may also be costs met by the cpounties such as paying the fares to and from the uK, supplying a car and a place to stay and so on.,

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2019/07/06/brexit-ruined-south-africas-cricket-world-cup/

Britain’s decision to leave the European Union left South Africa’s English-based players unsure of how long 'Kolpak' contracts would be available for them. The Kolpak rule allows citizens of countries that are part of European Union association agreements to work in any EU country. A player can no longer play for their nation once they have signed a Kolpak deal, but some can earn significantly more solely playing English domestic cricket. The financial security Kolpak deals provide, combined with the uncertainty of the future availability of such contracts, led many to take the leap.

Since the 2016 referendum, 12 South African players have signed Kolpak deals. In the previous six years, only six had. Previously, players signed these deals towards the end of their careers – a trend which accounted for the likes of Morne Morkel turning his back on the international arena to sign a two-year contract with Surrey in 2018.

Now, however, some are quitting international cricket in their prime. Take Kyle Abbott. At the 2015 World Cup, he took nine wickets at an average of 14.44 as South Africa reached the semi-finals, before losing to New Zealand. But the prospect of repeating those heroics in 2019 was not enough to dissuade him from joining Hampshire on a four-year contract in 2017, aged 29.

Rilee Rossouw of Hampshire batting during the Specsavers County Champ Div 1 match between Hampshire County Cricket Club and Yorkshire County Cricket Club at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton
Rilee Rossouw quit South Africa to play for Hampshire CREDIT: REX
He was joined on the south coast by short-form specialist batsman Rilee Rossouw, who had scored 210 runs at 52.50 in the 2015 World Cup. The latter had been tipped as the next De Villiers by then coach Russell Domingo, who made no attempt to hide his dismay at the time.

“We got an email off his iPhone telling us he has signed Kolpak,” Domingo said. “He spelt my name wrong for starters – he put one ‘l’ instead of two. I’m very disappointed in him.”

Abbott and Roussow have been integral to Hampshire’s success in the 50-over format – they won the Royal London One-Day Cup in 2018 and reached the final this year, with Abbott taking 20 wickets – but the county is far from alone in profiting at South Africa’s expense.

Left-armer Wayne Parnell could have been the bowling wild card South Africa needed this year, but instead Worcestershire enjoyed the fruits of his talents as he took 22 wickets at 18.86.

Duanne Olivier of South Africa bowls during day 1 of the 2nd Castle Lager Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at St George's Park on February 21, 2019 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Duanne Olivier picked Yorkshire over South Africa while still in his prime CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
The biggest loss of all, however, was surely Duanne Olivier who, at the age of 26, signed a Kolpak deal with Yorkshire worth £150,000 a year. He had taken 31 wickets in his previous five Tests and had just broken into the ODI side with the prospect of a place in South Africa’s World Cup squad a tangible possibility.

Britain’s decision to leave the European Union left South Africa’s English-based players unsure of how long 'Kolpak' contracts would be available for them. The Kolpak rule allows citizens of countries that are part of European Union association agreements to work in any EU country. A player can no longer play for their nation once they have signed a Kolpak deal, but some can earn significantly more solely playing English domestic cricket. The financial security Kolpak deals provide, combined with the uncertainty of the future availability of such contracts, led many to take the leap.

Since the 2016 referendum, 12 South African players have signed Kolpak deals. In the previous six years, only six had. Previously, players signed these deals towards the end of their careers – a trend which accounted for the likes of Morne Morkel turning his back on the international arena to sign a two-year contract with Surrey in 2018.

Now, however, some are quitting international cricket in their prime. Take Kyle Abbott. At the 2015 World Cup, he took nine wickets at an average of 14.44 as South Africa reached the semi-finals, before losing to New Zealand. But the prospect of repeating those heroics in 2019 was not enough to dissuade him from joining Hampshire on a four-year contract in 2017, aged 29.

Rilee Rossouw of Hampshire batting during the Specsavers County Champ Div 1 match between Hampshire County Cricket Club and Yorkshire County Cricket Club at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton
Rilee Rossouw quit South Africa to play for Hampshire CREDIT: REX
He was joined on the south coast by short-form specialist batsman Rilee Rossouw, who had scored 210 runs at 52.50 in the 2015 World Cup. The latter had been tipped as the next De Villiers by then coach Russell Domingo, who made no attempt to hide his dismay at the time.

“We got an email off his iPhone telling us he has signed Kolpak,” Domingo said. “He spelt my name wrong for starters – he put one ‘l’ instead of two. I’m very disappointed in him.”

Abbott and Roussow have been integral to Hampshire’s success in the 50-over format – they won the Royal London One-Day Cup in 2018 and reached the final this year, with Abbott taking 20 wickets – but the county is far from alone in profiting at South Africa’s expense.

Left-armer Wayne Parnell could have been the bowling wild card South Africa needed this year, but instead Worcestershire enjoyed the fruits of his talents as he took 22 wickets at 18.86.

Duanne Olivier of South Africa bowls during day 1 of the 2nd Castle Lager Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at St George's Park on February 21, 2019 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Duanne Olivier picked Yorkshire over South Africa while still in his prime CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
The biggest loss of all, however, was surely Duanne Olivier who, at the age of 26, signed a Kolpak deal with Yorkshire worth £150,000 a year. He had taken 31 wickets in his previous five Tests and had just broken into the ODI side with the prospect of a place in South Africa’s World Cup squad a tangible possibility.
RH