The passing of Sir Garfield Sobers prompted a memory of seeing him in a Sunday League game at Dean Park:  1971, BA Richards b GS Sobers 69.  A decade that started the best of times for overseas players, maybe the best of decades for county cricket, when those at the very top of the game played all formats, all summer, and in an era of dominant West Indians, some of their players most, if not all of those seasons.  In the  first World Cup of 1975, 10 of their victorious side were current players at their counties. 9 of the 37 overseas players that summer  were among the first to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.

2026? In the early part of the season Michael Atherton wrote a piece in The Times ‘Golden age of overseas stars is long gone – are they  still worth the hassle?, pointing to Hampshire’s three attempts at signing a second overseas player, the general problems in attracting players. To which might be added  past criticism of  county cricket’s openness to Australians not helping any with regaining the Ashes, Steve Smith’s high profile time at Sussex in 2023 one instance.

There were 327 players involved In the first eight rounds of the Championship this year, 65 of them not eligible for England. Of those born in Australia, Jake Weatherald  opened  in the Test side last winter,  Nathan McSweeney, Beau Webster and fitness permitting Jhye Richardson  are possibles for the 2027 Ashes.  A help to Australia if the ifs?  The question more the extent of it.

The counterweight, most of the Australians  play Sheffield Shield cricket, where their batting averages tend to be noticeably lower, bowling averages higher;  in line with the idea that the standard is higher than in the Championship, but also that they have more to their game, help give their counties a lift.

Spin Bowling? Simon Harmer, 25 wickets in the April-June months but England’s difficulties with this self-inflicted, scheduling, not the numbers from overseas.  In the era when the West Indians were dominant  comments of a generally similar nature to these were made then, and could also be made now about the South Africans.  Maybe  feelings in relation to Australia are just different.