Brandon McMullen Appreciation Thread

[capt_Luffy]

Btw, I am opened to such a system being implemented in Ranji tbh. The fact is being tho, it's much more domestic in nature than the English CC system, and overall just is 2nd tier in comparison. Now can an overseas slot in IPL be extended to players from non Big 8 teams? Definitely and I feel IPL should. But I don't think Big Bash or the 100 needs to do so to, just because they are kinda **** in comparison.

 

[Ali TT]

Has anyone talked about killing the Counties? Damn.....

I'd quite happily delete a couple or more

 

[TheJediBrah]

Excuses for other countries' FC sides not pulling their weight for the betterment of the world.

Counties can barely produce enough cricketers to make the England side up to standard. I'm not sure why they should have some mortal duty placed upon them to uplift a bunch of associate nations too.

Bro you just ignored every point I made and repeated yourself with slightly different words.

Your second paragraph here makes no sense either. Adding overseas players to County cricket increases the standard and if anything helps England. They have 18 teams lmao. There's no shortage of positions available for locals even if you doubled, or tripled, the overseas allowance

 

[Molehill]

No but they're hardly going to rush him in based on zero First Class games. He needs to start playing some domestic FC cricket for someone and he'd have to do it as an overseas player (which teams would be less keen on) or retire from Scottish cricket.

I've just realised that Sussex must be playing Charlie Tear (a specialist number 7 bat seemingly) as an International player. I know we're in the financial mire, and I know he's actually a local lad, but still.....

 

[Third_Man]

Whilst I see a certain logic in Ali TT's argument, the ECB have ridiculously OTT rules.

There was a situation last year when a Scottish international wanted to play National Counties Cricket.

Despite being educated in Cumbria, representing the Cumbria through all the age-groups before going to Durham for University. After completing his education he ended up returning to live with his parents for at least 6 months who lived in the neighbouring county to Cumbria.

That disqualified him for playing National Counties Cricket for at least 3 years as in addition representing Scotland both he and his parents were living in Dumfries (Scotland).

Under ECB rules even if you give up playing for Scotland as an associate, if you are born in Scotland and live outside of England or Wales a player is disqualified from playing even at NCCA level for three years.

Players have to be resident in England or Wales for the immediately preceeding three years (min 210 days each year) to qualify to be domestic players. Seems almost vindictive in the case of Scottish qualified players.

 

[Third_Man]

I've just realised that Sussex must be playing Charlie Tear (a specialist number 7 bat seemingly) as an International player. I know we're in the financial mire, and I know he's actually a local lad, but still.....

Am not sure.
He played first class cricket for Sussex in 2023 alongside McAndrew and Karvelas, and in 2022 alongside Ashraf and Currie.

Presumbaly one or both of Tear (Scotland 23-25) and Currie (Scotland 23-26) must have been classified as domestic despite playing for Scotland.

 

[Chin Music]

I did an AI check on how the ECB can restrict Scottish and Irish cricketers. It says roughly that under their registration that players are either locally (England) qualified or are automatically classed as 'overseas' and that those who represent Scotland or Ireland are automatically overseas. It does say that this could be challenged as a restraint of trade, but of course it would take a lot of time and money for someone to do so which a jobbing cricketer isn't going to have compared with footballers.

In the 'pre-Bosman' era, there was a point where all non-English players in football were regarded as foreigners for the purpose of European competition although that of course when the UK was very much in the EU. Even so, the rights of Irish people to work in the UK is the same as it was pre Brexit because of the common travel area. It seems more than a little strange that UK nationals can be restricted from pursuing their career in one part of the UK.

 

[Molehill]

Am not sure.
He played first class cricket for Sussex in 2023 alongside McAndrew and Karvelas, and in 2022 alongside Ashraf and Currie.

Presumbaly one or both of Tear (Scotland 23-25) and Currie (Scotland 23-26) must have been classified as domestic despite playing for Scotland.

He didn't become a Scottish International until 2024, so I think up till then was definitely considered a local (had been in an Eng U19's squad).

I wonder if the rules are different for Tear given he's literally come through the Sussex Youth system and is basically an English lad who qualifies for Scotland.

 

[Third_Man]

He didn't become a Scottish International until 2024, so I think up till then was definitely considered a local (had been in an Eng U19's squad).

I wonder if the rules are different for Tear given he's literally come through the Sussex Youth system and is basically an English lad who qualifies for Scotland.

Played Scotland under 19s in 2021/22.
Played England under 19s in 2023.

Wonder if he has given up on Scotland and signed the declaration? Although played for Scotland in 2024 and 2025. IIRC Bosman ruling players used to change their minds.

Chris McBride came through the Cumbria age-group system, didn't do his domestic qualification much good although as said earlier he had returned to live in Dumfries.

My, biased, experience of the eligibility rules are they are a series of hurdles in place to allow administrators to say No - unless England might be interested in a player as in Archer and potentially Tear and Muyeye.

 

[Molehill]

Played Scotland under 19s in 2021/22.
Played England under 19s in 2023.

Wonder if he has given up on Scotland and signed the declaration? Although played for Scotland in 2024 and 2025. IIRC Bosman ruling players used to change their minds.

Chris McBride came through the Cumbria age-group system, didn't do his domestic qualification much good although as said earlier he had returned to live in Dumfries.

My, biased, experience of the eligibility rules are they are a series of hurdles in place to allow administrators to say No - unless England might be interested in a player as in Archer and potentially Tear and Muyeye.

I think my opinion would be that if a County has brought a player through their youth system, then that should be enough to guarantee status for life, regardless if they choose to play for an alternative country later on.

 

[Ali TT]

Bro you just ignored every point I made and repeated yourself with slightly different words.

Your second paragraph here makes no sense either. Adding overseas players to County cricket increases the standard and if anything helps England. They have 18 teams lmao. There's no shortage of positions available for locals even if you doubled, or tripled, the overseas allowance

Look Brah

There's a difference between having a more relaxed set of rules around international cricketers in the county game and saying that the counties should each reserve 1 or 2 slots for players from the "non big-8" cricketing nations (as capt_luffy stated as his wish originally). The latter doesn't follow from the former, as presumably counties would mostly want to sign pros from the "big-8" rather than most likely lower standard options from the associates. The idea that one nation's domestic system should take the load for somehow expanding the game internationally, to the detriment of already diluted standards, can take a long walk imo.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Look Brah

There's a difference between having a more relaxed set of rules around international cricketers in the county game and saying that the counties should each reserve 1 or 2 slots for players from the "non big-8" cricketing nations (as capt_luffy stated as his wish originally). The latter doesn't follow from the former, as presumably counties would mostly want to sign pros from the "big-8" rather than most likely lower standard options from the associates. The idea that one nation's domestic system should take the load for somehow expanding the game internationally, to the detriment of already diluted standards, can take a long walk imo.

I suggested an Optional additional 1 or 2 spots for non Big 8 teams. And besides, seriously, if signing one player from Scotland or Namibia is sufficient to ruin the CC system, perhaps they have walked into a deadend for good.

 

[Third_Man]

I think my opinion would be that if a County has brought a player through their youth system, then that should be enough to guarantee status for life, regardless if they choose to play for an alternative country later on.

Not sure that NCCA are that sensible, but given the opportunity, I might suggest it to their registration secretary.

 

[Thala_0710]

Maybe Scotland get can test status... And they can get a few tests vs Afghanistan, Ireland, Zimbabwe (& one of Netherlands, Nepal?).

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Btw, I am opened to such a system being implemented in Ranji tbh. The fact is being tho, it's much more domestic in nature than the English CC system, and overall just is 2nd tier in comparison. Now can an overseas slot in IPL be extended to players from non Big 8 teams? Definitely and I feel IPL should. But I don't think Big Bash or the 100 needs to do so to, just because they are kinda **** in comparison.

If a Nepali player wanted to play domestic cricket in India, could they do so? I believe they are considered the same as Indian citizens in most spheres in India, but when it comes to the IPL, Lamichhane was in the overseas category (and as a spinner you have to be very very good to get a sniff as an overseas player in the IPL!)

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Would McMullen be an overseas player in England considering he was born and raised in South Africa? Scottish-raised and even some Dutch players (who have been in England since before Brexit and thus have settled status) are not considered overseas players in English cricket, but the issue for them is that if they prioritise their countries, they risk missing county games and hence losing their place in the team (and thus their contracts, which are no doubt more lucrative than their national ones)

 

[TheJediBrah]

Look Brah

There's a difference between having a more relaxed set of rules around international cricketers in the county game and saying that the counties should each reserve 1 or 2 slots for players from the "non big-8" cricketing nations (as capt_luffy stated as his wish originally). The latter doesn't follow from the former, as presumably counties would mostly want to sign pros from the "big-8" rather than most likely lower standard options from the associates. The idea that one nation's domestic system should take the load for somehow expanding the game internationally, to the detriment of already diluted standards, can take a long walk imo.

Bro relax, you're fighting an imaginary battle. No one suggested Counties should do charitable work and help develop associate players at their expense, you inferred that. It would only be if the players are worthy of selection and would strengthen the Counties by playing, just as if they were another local player.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Also have to laugh at the idea of England doing anything altruistic in developing associate nations after decades of poaching players from all over the world attempting to remain competitive at the top level, to the detriment of everywhere else

 

[capt_Luffy]

If a Nepali player wanted to play domestic cricket in India, could they do so? I believe they are considered the same as Indian citizens in most spheres in India, but when it comes to the IPL, Lamichhane was in the overseas category (and as a spinner you have to be very very good to get a sniff as an overseas player in the IPL!)

Nepalis aren't considered Indian citizens in any spheres at all. They do have some special rights for a 1950 treaty to work here without a visa, but it's far from a citizenship. For that they need to live here for 12 years and denounce the Nepali one. What we do is recruit them for the Gorkha regiment in the army, but that's the Exact same thing UK does as well. So really, not remotely the same for England and Ireland, let alone Scotland which is a part of Britain.

 

[mr_mister]

I rate George Salmond higher. Scored a handy 30 in a bowling friendly 99 WC