BRYMBO captain Joss Roberts has urged the North Wales League to abandon the use of overseas players for the good of the game.

Roberts highlighted his frustration last season, when the standard of those overseas players had too much of an impact on the outcome of matches, by writing an open letter to the league.

Bangor’s Blake Dean, who scored 1,423 runs, including eight centuries, at an average of over 100, played in Australia’s Big Bash competition, while Kaine Harmsworth was on standby for the competition, proving his talent for champions Menai Bridge with over 700 runs and 37 wickets.

Indeed, Dean and Harmsworth were joined in the top four run scorers in the Premier League by Mold overseas star JP van Aswegen and Pontblyddyn all-rounder Jeff Lituri.

It is that dominance that led Roberts, who praised the new 50-over format and rule changes implemented last season, and Brymbo, to ask for the use of such players to be scrapped in order to help improve the talent already in north Wales.

“After viewing statistics over the entire course of last season, and how the league table finished, it made me realise, more clearly than ever, just how much influence overseas professionals are having on our league, almost to the point that games are being decided on how well or how much their overseas professional has played or contributed, resulting in more and more unwarranted results, and unjust placements in the league,” read the letter.

“Out of respect, I am not going to point any fingers at any club as sadly the signing of overseas professionals is accepted in our league, and I fully understand there will be arguments for and against overseas professionals coming over as they may be seen to improve the standard, or excel the level of coaching, but when I see ridiculous and laughable contributions made by these individuals it sometimes makes you wonder is this what north Wales cricket needs and once again, is this good cricket and enjoyable to be involved in?

“So much so that I had a player come up to me last year and give his honest verdict on his team and say “we are solely resting on whether - overseas players name - plays well or not”.

“Personally, I would much rather see a league without overseas professionals participating on an equal playing field with home produced players, and any money saved by not purchasing an overseas player can be spent in far more efficient and long term plans such as investing in your clubs coaching badges or other various positive schemes.”

And Roberts even moved to apologise for his club’s use of an overseas player during the 2013 season. Brymbo signed Ben Hilliard and the bowler took 63 wickets at an average of 13 to help keep the club in the top-flight.

“As the proud cricket club that Brymbo is, two years ago we ventured into the unknown and signed our very first over seas player, Ben Hilliard, who ended the season with 63 wickets, second only to another overseas pro, Gordon Kerr,” said the letter. “This was a staggering return which we were indescribably fortunate for as we pumped excessive money into the signing.

“Ben was a top professional, coach and all round great character to have around the club, but would I want Brymbo to sign him again or replace him with another overseas player? NO.

“That season Brymbo managed to just stay clear of the relegation zone, beating Northop on the last day of the season to survive. Without Ben we would have been down and out along time before our last fixture, and personally, I felt our survival was an unwarranted achievement as we had our overseas professional do the bulk of the work for us, and I feel this is the case for a few other teams in the league.

“As a captain, this season I took so much more pleasure being able to call on someone we as a club proudly produced, or recruited without offerings, to for example bowl an over to win us the game, rather than just throwing the ball or expecting our overseas to gain the team the victory which I see happen on so many countless occasions.”

Roberts wants to protect the likes of 13-year-old Connor Davies, who has been selected for England’s elite young player squad, and help add yet more names to the success stories of David Lloyd and Dewi Penrhyn Jones, both of whom play professionally for Glamorgan.

A change in the rules regarding overseas players would depend on a vote between the clubs, according to Richard Penny, who is on the board of directors for Cricket Wales.

“The league will support the decisions made by its member club,” said Penny.

“Hopefully any changes in rules will only benefit cricket in north Wales.”

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