Former South Africa player Shaun Pollock is concerned about the players as they choose county cricket over the national team in his country but says it is a problem “you can’t fix as sport has become business”. Earlier this year, Duanne Oliver signed Kolpak deal after playing just 10 Tests for South Africa. Kyle Abbott too had done the same in 2017. Morne Morkel too signed a Kolpak deal to play in county cricket but after his retirement.
However, the Kolpak deal allows players from countries to play cricket in any EU country without being considered an overseas player with free trade deals with the European Union. They can even sign up with English counties and play for them.
“Well you want to have as many players to pick from and you can’t fix it (this problem). That is how it is in the modern day. In the old days there wasn’t much financial gain in playing sport. People just made themselves available playing for the country. Now it is business,” Pollock said.
“They have to make business decisions, where they are going to make money, where they are going to get opportunities and you can’t fight against it. If they feel they are not going to play for South Africa for a period of time and decide to go elsewhere, it is unfortunate. It is not ideal because strength comes from depth and when your depth gets taken away it gets more challenging,” said former South Africa captain.
On the other hand, retirements by the great players like AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn have also affected the national team.
Read here: Shafali Verma Can be The Opener India Are Looking For, Says Mithali Raj
“I think we have just a lot a big players retiring over the last few years. Rebuilding takes time, getting the guys to become big players, when you lose the likes of de Villiers, Amla, Steyn, you can’t replace them overnight,” he said.
“I did expect a fight but how successful they will be I wasn’t sure. I did expect it from the most experienced campaigners in Elgar and du Plessis. None of the guys who got out yesterday have been to India before but it is still a big ask to come here and you do learn your lessons. When you are faced with a problem for the first time you know you can learn a massive amount, what the bowlers do with the ball and things like that,” he reasoned.
Barring Vernon Philander, none of the bowlers became a threat to the Indian batsmen including Kagiso Rabada who is considered as one of the best bowlers in recent times.
“You have not played Test cricket for six months and you come here and these conditions are flat. They will start to work things out. By the next Test it will get better and by the last game plans will be perfect. You have a small window of opportunity (to take wickets) in these conditions. The first eight overs and when the ball is reversing are important,” said Shaun Pollock.
