Bring back the Kolpaks
South Africa's one-day side has surely been weakened by the retirement of Shaun Pollock, and Neil Manthorp highlights in the Mail and Guardian the all-round talent that's defected, either on Kolpak contracts to England or to the Indian Cricket
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
South Africa's one-day side has surely been weakened by the retirement of Shaun Pollock, and Neil Manthorp highlights in the Mail and Guardian the all-round talent that's defected, either on Kolpak contracts to England or to the Indian Cricket League.
Almost 40 South Africans played county cricket during this English summer, and the vast majority of them renounced their country to do so. One happily accepted the money a couple of months ago and remained convinced that South African cricket's health was "okay".
Now, after 10 weeks in an English change room, his views have changed.
"The Kolpak ruling is killing our cricket. Unless we start getting guys to come back and contribute, we'll simply feed the English game. I learned so much -- we had four or five international guys in the team and we discussed techniques and tactics, how to win games and how to behave as professionals.
"At the franchise last season the conversation was pretty much based around who had the girlfriend with the biggest tits," said the player, understandably preferring not to be named.
Nishi Narayanan is a staff writer at ESPNcricinfo