Alderman calls for overseas players in Tests

Australia's former swing bowler, Terry Alderman, has suggested that an international draft ought to be created to hasten the development of Test cricket's minnows. Speaking ahead of Zimbabwe's arrival in Australia for their maiden Test tour of the country, Alderman pointed out that the gulf in experience between the two nations - not to mention Bangladesh, whom Australia beat in a two-Test series in July - could be bridged by the inclusion of overseas players.

"I like this idea of drafting players," said Alderman, who cited the example of Mark Waugh - a batsman whose 128-Test Australian career is over, but who could conceivably have played on for another two years at the highest level. "I can't see anything wrong with that in helping the fledgling nations, it is never going to happen, but I would like to see them do something like that."

"No frontline Australian player is going to put his name in the hat to go and play for Bangladesh," admitted Alderman. "But someone coming towards the end of a career or some of our one-day players who are on the periphery who want to play at the highest level. They have got a chance to have a Test career playing in another country."

Alderman, who played 41 Tests between 1981 and 1990-91 and twice took 40 wickets in an Ashes series in England, believes the ICC could fund such moves to ensure competitiveness throughout the Test-playing nations. "People are going to throw up all sorts of things to rejuvenate the lower teams," he said. "It is almost accepted that Zimbabwe, like Bangladesh, are not going to win a game, but it is seen as almost an ambassadorial role for Australia to help them along.

"They would probably need two or three players drafted into these teams. Instead of having just [foreign] coaches, you actually need players for the on-field experience, to encourage the bloke who has the potential. If the guy up the other end himself has never made a hundred or been successful at Test level, they are never going to improve."

Alderman, who is currently employed as a radio summariser in Australia, believes that Zimbabwe will be less competitive than the Bangladeshis were earlier in the year, and the absence of both Flower brothers - Andy has retired while Grant has broken his thumb - would hit them extremely hard. "They have just got to try and get something out of it."