Kolpaks, salary caps and Surrey’s ‘silly’ money

This item first appeared in SPIN magazine, February/March 2010 issue

Captain The captain heads a professional staff of around 25-30 players whose total salaries must not, from 2010, exceed the salary cap of £1.8m. Only a handful of counties can afford to come close to that ceiling, however, and there are several loop-holes (Andrew Flintoff’s new Lancashire contract eg, is exempt from the calculations as he has recently left an England central contract). SALARY: £90-150K

1 Kolpak player New Home Office regulations are expected to make it harder to sign Kolpak players. From 2010, players must either have a) had an EU work permit for four years, b) played Test cricket within the last two years or c) played five Tests within the last five years. So Andrel Nel can stay at Surrey and Jacques Rudolph at Yorkshire, but there will be a thinning out of South Africans perceived to be mid-ranking journeymen. £50-90K

1 overseas player Counties are again restricted to fielding one overseas player in Championship games in 2010 – though two are allowed for the Friends Provident Twenty20 Cup. Whether those additional players should be included in the salary cap calculations is currently a matter for debate. £90-200K

4 academy graduates Expect to see more young English players in first XIs this summer. The ECB is – despite PCA opposition – offering counties up to £80,000 to play two players aged 22 or less and another three under 26. The reward is set to be worth £200,000 per county by 2013. £20-30K

2 capped pros Only two established players in their late-20s make our dummy XI – the ECB incentivises counties to play nine English-qualified players and with the emphasis now on those under-26, there could be a controversial thinning out of opportunities for older county stalwarts. £30-60K

1 senior pro The PCA, likewise, fear that high-earning players in their 30s will be squeezed out by the ECB’s new incentives and their value as mentors to the younger generation lost. In not renewing the contract of a 34-year-old counties can save on the wage bill and maximise their ECB money – though possibly damaging their chances of silverware. £70-100K

1 star player The reported salaries offered to Gareth Batty (£90k) and Steven Davies (£150k) have led critics to wonder how Surrey could keep below the £1.8m salary cap. Yet even a star player at a small club, with a total wage bill of around £1m, may be paid around £100k. £100-200K