by Bluedemon » Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:25 am
interesting article on news.com
AN ENGLISH county cricket deal involving SA batsman Mark Cosgrove has emerged as an ingredient in the downfall of former Redbacks skipper Johan Botha.
The Advertiser understands Cosgrove has signed to play with Leicestershire under the county’s new coach and SA teammate Andrew McDonald for the 2015 England season in a move first mooted in October.
But the 30-year-old was forced to sign as a “local” England player by using his British passport because Leicestershire had already filled its overseas quota with Aussie and Victoria bowler Clint McKay.
Any deal has not yet been announced by Leicester.
The move means Cosgrove must forfeit his “local” status in Australian domestic cricket and instead play here as an “overseas” player for the length of his Leicester contract.
It is understood Cosgrove’s local status in Australian cricket would only change when he begins his stint at Leicester. The county season begins in early April.
Botha was signed as Redbacks and Strikers captain in July, 2012 and the South African has filled SA’s “overseas” spot since then.
A Cricket Australia spokesman last night confirmed CA regulations would prohibit Cosgrove and Botha playing in the same team once Cosgrove becomes a “local” for Leicester.
In effect, the South Australian Cricket Association was forced to choose between Botha and Cosgrove beyond this summer.
It is also believed SACA was under pressure from Cricket Australia, who believed Botha was clogging spin bowling and batting spots for young Australian talent.
The South Australian Cricket Assocation was approached for comment yesterday but did not respond.
Botha revealed on Tuesday that he was told during South Australia’s clash with Tasmania in December, before the break for Big Bash League, that he did not have a future with the Redbacks beyond this summer. He has relinquished the captaincy to Travis Head.
Botha, recently granted Australian residency, has stated his intent to continue living in Australia to raise his young family.
He would not qualify for citizenship — which would allow him to play Australian domestic cricket as a local — until midway through 2016.
Cosgrove’s situation only became a possibility in August, 2013, when Cricket Australia loosened its player eligibility rules.
The change allowed Australian-born players to use their dual citizenship to qualify as locals in England and overseas players in Australia. Previous rules excluded Australian-born players from holding overseas status in Australia.
The loosening of the regulation was dubbed the “Robson rule” — named after former Australian under-19 player Sam Robson who held dual citizenship — was designed allow players to feature in both first-class systems.
SAFooty.net, where you hear the community football news first
