How would an independent 'Wales Cricket Team' get on?

[Dazinho]

Hello - bit of a random musing this, so...

We have of course seen the rise of Ireland to test status (a United Ireland in cricket terms at that) and Scotland would appear to be on the road to achieving the same. Now...I've often thought the 'nicest' thing we could do is allow both countries to enter a representative team in the County game with a view to growing the sport. Scotland of course had one for a period in the 2000s and 2010s, albeit in the one day format. Ireland did used to play in the knockout competitions and had a bit of success, but are a far stronger proposition now.

So strangely enough...the one country from these islands that already has a county team with some historical success is Wales. In fact an all time Welsh XI would be a fascinating discussion of its own and I can only presume it has been done already.

Ok that Welsh XI would essentially be Glamorgan in all but name, but I'd be interested in any thoughts about a Welsh team that broke off from the ECB, retained Glamorgan (and maybe another county) in our first class structure and wanted to play test cricket as an independent country.

Ireland have gone in the direction they have but there might be room in our county system for a Glasgow/Edinburgh side or both.

I'd actually like to see some 'European League Cricket' involving London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Cardiff, Swansea, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam and Rome. A tournament like that would surely raise the bar for the European game and enable Scotland and Netherlands to make the jump to full test match status, with Italy a few years behind.

We've seen talk of a European Nations Championship and if you put a gun to my head I'd vote for a club tournament instead. All day long.

On the original point I do wonder how an independent Welsh side would do if they broke off from the ECB. Thanks in advance...

 

[Ali TT]

It wouldn't be a Glamorgan XI. Firstly, Glamorgan only had two Welsh born players in their side this weekend. Secondly, I suspect you'd quickly discover a lot of Welsh-descended pros who'd be eligible in the wider county game and in SA, NZ and Australia. Initially they might be able to put out a relatively strong side - certainly comparable with, if not better than, Ireland and Zimbabwe. However, by becoming "independent" of England, Welsh players would become overseas so, much like a few Irish pros did one Ireland gained test status, they'd lose their county contracts. I doubt Wales could sustain a professional first class system so the talent pipeline would dry up and Welsh cricket disappear into the margins.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

However, by becoming "independent" of England, Welsh players would become overseas so, much like a few Irish pros did one Ireland gained test status, they'd lose their county contracts.

I really don't understand how this works in employment law - how does the ECB get away with it when Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish and (as I recall) Irish citizens are all eligible to work in the UK. How can they differentiate/discriminate on that basis?

 

[Chubb]

IIRC as a Channel Islander, Asa Tribe could play for Wales if he chose to.

Without knowing anything about the guy I always assumed Kiran Carlson was a South African, but he was born in Swansea.

 

[Chin Music]

I really don't understand how this works in employment law - how does the ECB get away with it when Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish and (as I recall) Irish citizens are all eligible to work in the UK. How can they differentiate/discriminate on that basis?

Yeah, I wondered about that a few years ago and it always stunk to be honest that Irish international players were regarded as foreigners for the purposes of English domestic competitions. It's the reason why Jack Carson plays for Sussex as a local player. He is from NI but playing for Ireland means he would likely not get a county contract and would earn not very much in comparison given he doesn't appear to be a franchise prospect.

 

[kevinw]

Yeah, I wondered about that a few years ago and it always stunk to be honest that Irish international players were regarded as foreigners for the purposes of English domestic competitions. It's the reason why Jack Carson plays for Sussex as a local player. He is from NI but playing for Ireland means he would likely not get a county contract and would earn not very much in comparison given he doesn't appear to be a franchise prospect.

There's a chance Carson could play for England in the future.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

It wouldn't be a Glamorgan XI. Firstly, Glamorgan only had two Welsh born players in their side this weekend. Secondly, I suspect you'd quickly discover a lot of Welsh-descended pros who'd be eligible in the wider county game and in SA, NZ and Australia. Initially they might be able to put out a relatively strong side - certainly comparable with, if not better than, Ireland and Zimbabwe. However, by becoming "independent" of England, Welsh players would become overseas so, much like a few Irish pros did one Ireland gained test status, they'd lose their county contracts. I doubt Wales could sustain a professional first class system so the talent pipeline would dry up and Welsh cricket disappear into the margins.

While Glamorgan don’t have that many players raised in Wales (Jamie McIlroy for example was born in Hereford but raised in Wales), if Wales were granted Test status tomorrow, surely a lot of them would by now have theoretically qualified by residency?

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

I really don't understand how this works in employment law - how does the ECB get away with it when Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish and (as I recall) Irish citizens are all eligible to work in the UK. How can they differentiate/discriminate on that basis?

It’s similar in football, if you were trained at a Scottish or Irish club, you can’t be considered a homegrown player in the English leagues (which of course Wrexham, Swansea, Cardiff and Newport take part in, so Wales have an exemption there)

 

[TheJediBrah]

Jamie McIlroy

 

[Ali TT]

While Glamorgan don’t have that many players raised in Wales (Jamie McIlroy for example was born in Hereford but raised in Wales), if Wales were granted Test status tomorrow, surely a lot of them would by now have theoretically qualified by residency?

Possibly, but I suspect more likely that you'd find a bunch of players in the 17 English counties who will qualify through ancestry ("Joe Clarke's gran was born in Ebbw Vale", that type of thing), plus a few Saffers and Antipodeans.

 

[the big bambino]

There's a chance Carson could play for England in the future.

Well he is tall.

 

[Stefan9]

I really don't understand how this works in employment law - how does the ECB get away with it when Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish and (as I recall) Irish citizens are all eligible to work in the UK. How can they differentiate/discriminate on that basis?

I have always wondered this when it isn't allowed in the epl and such.