Counties Demand 'Urgent Review' of Player Contracts to Prevent Whiteball Professionals from Taking Advantage

The growing number of whiteball professionals is changing the relationship between players and their districts. Credit: Getty Images/Alex Panting

Cricket directors in 18 first-class districts have collectively called for an «urgent review» of players' contracts to ensure they are not cheated into signing white-ball specialists who rarely play for them.

< p>The 18 head coaches — or their closest club equivalent (often a head coach) — met at The Oval on Monday. The group meets a couple of times a year to discuss pressing issues within its purview and has taken the unusual step of issuing a joint statement to clarify its position on the issue.

As the number of franchise competitions grows exponentially, the group is concerned that a growing number of whiteball professionals remain on contract with their districts for 12 months a year, which gives them access to medical support and training, despite the fact that they are only available to participate in Vitality Blast. . They also play in the 100, which makes them unable to represent their district in another white-ball competition, the One-Day Cup, as they take place at the same time.

In addition, some players expect their districts to help them prepare for overseas franchise commitments months before they actually play Blast, draining the resources of clubs, many of which are cash-strapped. This winter, 74 players from England have played in at least one foreign T20 league.

Surrey cricket director Alec Stewart spoke out on the matter and recently told Sky Sports: «They go out and play elsewhere and when they come back they need time at the indoor center, good coaches give them advice on their game just to prepare for the going out and playing in another franchise competition somewhere else. “Oh, and by the way, I have a minor injury, so can I see a physical therapist, a doctor, medical staff, and also go to rehab?”

The proposal is a review that will see a «standard player contract» normalize short-term deals — say eight weeks — for Blast, allowing players to effectively freelance and do whatever they please for the rest of the year. Understandably, the counties don't necessarily want to pay their white ball specialists less, but they do want to cut the benefits available to them.

In this scenario, the player will be required to independently train and heal outside the period of the contract with the district. Under the current agreement, players must obtain a No Objection Certificate in order to play for a team other than their home district and if this conflicts with the English summer (e.g. Indian Premier League or Major League Cricket which is launching in the US this summer) give their county back a portion of what they earn.

The statement said: «The heads of the DOC discussed several agenda items, but perhaps the most important was the recognition by all of the urgent need to review the standard player contract.

“The current arrangement leaves clubs little control over the off-season movements of their players, often resulting in increased medical and staffing costs to ensure players are properly trained and rehabilitated, and it is now clear that more flexibility is needed in this area. suitable for both clubs and players.

"The number of players participating in winter tournaments has grown exponentially over the past 4/5 years, and with the approach of US Major League Cricket, this is becoming a very real issue for all involved.»

The Professional Cricketers' Association on Wednesday stated its position on the matter, and their chief operating officer, former Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell, told the Guardian he feared that such a move would push more players «down the franchise path» and pose a «real risk to the game.»

The DoCs group is also calling for a place in the decision-making process in the English game. Previously, Martin Moxon, a former Yorkshire DoC, served on the ECB's cricket committee, but since he retired the group believes there has been a «void» that has eroded their influence and «our years of accumulated experience ” got lost in the decision-making process of the game.