Tuesday 14 June 2011

Time to complain...

As regular readers will know, I’m not shy of expressing an opinion on this blog, so here goes with tonight’s special.

In my opinion, Nottinghamshire have got away unbelievably lightly in being fined only £600 for fielding an unregistered player against us last week. That the player in question, the redoubtable Australian David Hussey, made a game-winning contribution of 60 runs, a run out and a wicket further highlights that our local neighbours seem to have played a ‘Get out of Jail Free’ card.

A very quick Google search reveals many cases in various sports, including cricket, where a side who have done something similar have been docked points for the infringement. Some have been both fined AND docked points. Indeed, Yorkshire lost the points, ironically in a game against Nottinghamshire, for fielding the then ineligible Azeem Rafiq in 2008.

In some of these cases the player concerned didn’t even make a telling contribution to the game in question, he simply stepped onto the field when he wasn’t entitled to as the club had not followed proper registration procedures. While I totally accept that it was an oversight by Nottinghamshire, rules are rules. Either a player is registered, or he isn't. There's no scenario whereby they 'almost' registered him, or did so 'a bit' that I am aware of...

I'd be surprised, no, disappointed if Derbyshire didn't appeal on this one. In addition to his runs, Hussey dismissed Wes Durston (our top scorer) and ran out Luke Sutton in that match, a sizeable contribution. For Nottinghamshire to say that they regret it is understandable. That it was an administrative oversight for a player who was otherwise eligible is unfortunate and probably correct. The reality is still that a player who was not properly registered to do so won a match for his side.

Following on so quickly from the farce of the Rikki Wessels signing it fuels, rightly or wrongly, the idea that there are double standards in the game. How Wessels is cleared to play for Nottinghamshire yet cannot play for Northamptonshire is a joke. Line it up any way you like, but cricketers shouldn't qualify for entrepreneur visas. Strange how our neighbours always come out smelling of roses...

The fact that their chairman, Peter Wright, is also the chairman of the ECB cricket committee is an unfortunate coincidence. So too is the fact that this committee has sought to clamp down on overseas players in the English game. A classic case of 'do as I say, not as I do' eh? A man like Iain O'Brien, unfairly treated if ever anyone was, must feel like weeping when he sees such shenanigans going on not too far from his home.

This isn't a case of sour grapes. as that's not my style. Rather, it is a case of fairness. If O'Brien, with an English wife isn't eligible to ply his trade here, then Wessels shouldn't be. You can read more about the Wessels farce in George Dobell's excellent piece on Cricinfo at:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/513681.html

A player who is registered is able to play in a match, one who isn't shouldn't be able to. I'd like to think that our northern neighbours of the White Rose might have something to say about the Hussey situation too.

As for Nottinghamshire, they should be embarrassed. I know I would be.

2 comments:

  1. 100% agrre with evrything you have said. I remember the rafiq incident very well and seem to recall there was a huge uproar for a player who had a very little impact on the game. However for this Hussey incident there are just a few low key articles around on the web. As i said on falcons forum this story needs more publicity for the ecb to take further action.I would love to hear what Chris Grant has to say about this. We might be sounding desperate here but we're not despearte we are just looking for justice. On the day they played us off the park no complaints there, but they played us off the park with an illegal player, plenty of complaints there...

    Falcon_Ram

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  2. Absolutely right peakfan. Ive commented on the Worcester preview. Didn,t notice this to start with!.

    Its completely wrong and once again reeks of double standards. Nothing new there though is there?. Whenever Derbyshire do anything wrong, out comes the book. We get docked maximum points if the wicket is deemed unfit. Other teams either get away with it altogether or a minimal points deduction.

    Remember when we signed Ian Harvey?. All that bollocks about a minor conviction to his name. Bet if it had been one of the blue eyed southern counties it would all have been convieniently swept under the carpet. The test ground counties have ALWAYS been favoured and always will. We must appeal. Then again,who are we appealing to. The same sort of dipsticks that made the decision in the first place. Another example of a world full of useless, corrupt committees.

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