Centrally-contracted players or free-agents? John Emburey and Gladstone Small debate the merits of the ECB's flagship policy in the Guardian.
John Emburey: The central contract system came in to help the coach and selectors manage the players: the idea was they would play less county cricket, which would mean they could be fully rested when Test series came around.But that hasn't necessarily stopped players playing more cricket – Test cricketers still complain they're tired, mentally and physically because of the full international calendar despite the presence of central contracts. And if there's big money available, like there is in the IPL, players still seem willing to fit a few extra games in. You can't really blame them for that either, especially given the huge sumsof money involved.
Gladstone Small: It's certainly not perfect, but essentially the current central contract system works well. I loved playing at Test level with all its dramas but I know from my own personal experience that I would have been a better-prepared player fitness wise if more time to rest between Tests had been available and that's what the current system lets players do.
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