Kolpaks can help game, says Allott

CHRIS OSTICK

PAUL Allott believes the recent influx of Kolpaks into county cricket can be good for the game.

Lancashire have hired West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul and South African Dane Vilas for next season.

They join a squad which already includes former Zimbabwean Test bowler Kyle Jarvis actually help English cricket.

“There is a hoo-haa about Hampshire signing two Kolpaks. I played in an era where every county had two overseas players. In my view, that made county cricket fantastic,” said the former Lancashire seam bowler.

“If I’m a young bowler having to bowl at Gordon Greenidge, Barry Richards and Viv Richards, I am going to know where I stand in the whole scheme of things. If I can bowl at these guys and do a good job, I know I am on the right level. I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all to promote quality cricketers.”

Allott insists Lancashire’s main aim is to bring through their own talent.

“I can’t emphasis enough that our No.1 priority is to promote home-grown Lancashire cricketers,” he said. “The ideal scenario is to have nine of them in the side. It may be, there are times when you can’t do that.

“But you have to balance all that with wanting and needing to be in the First Division of the County Championship. It is a bit counter-productive of people to suggest you can’t sign Kolpak players or experienced overseas players, then say you have to finish in the top six to stay in the division.”