Indian skipper Virat Kohli has reportedly decided to play for Surrey in the county championship in order to prepare for India’s tour of England. Former England pacer Bob Willis isn’t pleased with the news as he’s against the idea of foreign professionals playing county cricket.
“I can’t stand overseas players in county cricket,” Willis told Sky Sports. “It doesn’t benefit the players stranded in the second XI year on year and the youngsters. The only way to improve our Test team is to have as many England-qualified players playing in the County Championship as possible.”
“Instead, they’re going to pay Kohli, presumably, five figures a match so he can hone his skills in English conditions before a Test series. It’s nonsense,” said the 68-year-old, who played 90 Tests for England.
“He should be made to suffer and average 30 [sic] in England as he has done before. We don’t want England starting to lose Test matches at home because we’re accommodating all of these visiting players.”
The Indian skipper had a horrendous Test series in 2014, where he managed just 134 runs in 10 innings at 13.4, failing to score even a half-century. But Kohli’s been having a great run in Tests, home and away, ever since. The impending England tour is regarded as the litmus test of his batting prowess.
“I would be absolutely ecstatic and I think most people would be,” said Surrey’s director of women’s cricket, Ebony Rainford-Brent, of Kohli’s potential county stint.
“Box office players like Kohli will give county cricket a bit of a buzz and it should be celebrated. You want the best people playing and if that turns out to be for Surrey, then so be it.”