Financial incentives to pick English players

Counties are going to be encouraged to field English-qualified players through a new financial incentives scheme, which the ECB will announce at their strategic review on April 19. Seventy cricketers who are not qualified for England are on county staffs for the 2005 season, but European law prevents the ECB from discriminating against the counties who employ them.

This new system will be based on how many English-qualified players are selected, and further rewards will be available if they progress to the national side. Presently, counties receive £1.3 million from Lord's with only 4% of that related to their success in producing players for England - but that is set to increase to 25% by 2007 in an effort to encourage home-grown talent. This news comes on the back of the announcement of a new loan system for county cricket, and reflects the ECB's concern about foreign imports restricting the opportunities for English youngsters.

But Kolpak and European passport players have not had a detrimental effect on the England side in the past year, and now Duncan Fletcher, the coach, is set to get more powers over a greater number of players. A pool of 25 cricketers will be selected to be under the direct control Fletcher, who will be able to co-ordinate their training requirements and arrange camps throughout the summer.