sussexpob wrote:Alviro Patterson wrote:Something advocated by South African pundits 12 months ago, makes sense when South Africa has two first class systems.
What is the intended benefit? I would usually say diluting quality and resources is never a good idea, but SA is a pretty special case. I wonder if this is an attempt to get around racial quotas by making sure FC worthy players arent blocked under quota systems lower down, leading to FC worthy players bleeding out the system. At least this way those players spread to other teams... but then again if quotas exist still, you have to think at the lower end of these 15 teams the quality might get tragic
A prime example I guess would be someone like KP. Couldnt get a team in SA on racial quota selections with 6 teams, but in a 15 team setup he'd hit a 7th/8th team line up on merit and get his opportunity.
South Africa's population being similar to England justifies having a 15 team First Class system. The previous six team franchise system just leaks out talent and some have already headed out to New Zealand. A combination of fast tracking elite sportsmen to residency and the three year ICC qualification criteria provides an alternative pathway.
Cricket Ireland is another with the kolpak system and 2018 U19 World Cup player Curtis Campher has already made the migration.
A 15 team system, 8 of them franchises who can generate growth through Twenty20 provides more cricket opportunities all round.
