The Enemy Within

Kent to pay Stuart Clarke to warm up in English conditions for the Ashes.

As a Kent fan, I've tried desperately to play Devils Advocate, and see the positive side of this move. Kent are keen to jump straight back into Division One... it's up to them who they recruit... it'll give English batsmen the chance to run the rule over Clarke...

All of which is probably true, but the bottom line is that a player who is currently unfit is going to be paid big bucks to warm up here in English conditions in the build up to an Ashes series.

I've long had a problem with the 'short term fix' attitude to overseas signings - the nadir for which was laughably reached by Surrey last September when they acquired Shoaib Akhtar for what turned out to be about 40 overs at a cost of a hundred grand. Getting an overseas 'star' in for six weeks just seems extraordinarily gratuitous - and what does it say to any younger players looking to stake their place in the side.