England cricket bosses are said to considering a raft of measures in response to their Ashes loss to Australia, and one could involved placing a ban on Aussie players taking part in their domestic comp. Australia retained the urn after the third Ashes Test – continuing England’s 15-year misery Down Under.
The next Ashes series will take place in England in 2027, and the Poms are desperate to win back the urn after Australia retained it with a 2-2 series draw the last time it was held on UK soil in 2023. According to The Times in the UK, the English Cricket Board is reportedly considering asking counties clubs not to sign Australian players before the 2027 series.
England are considering banning Australian players from the County Championships. Image: Getty
Australian players often play in the County Championships each winter, including in the lead-up to an away Ashes series. It gives the Aussies the ideal preparation for English conditions, and a leg-up on the Poms as they never make a similar move to play in the Sheffield Shield in Australia.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith frequently play in the County Championship, and 13 of the 19 Aussies who have featured in the last two Ashes series have as well. But according to reports, it could be a thing of the past.
Marnus Labuschagne (L) before a game for Glamorgan in County cricket in 2024. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
The ECB is said to be considering placing a ban on Australians playing County cricket, but they need every County club to be on board. The ECB doesn’t have a lot of power to dictate to counties who they can and can’t sign, but they can request the ban on Australians for the good of the English game.
If Australians are blocked from playing County cricket to prepare for the 2027 Ashes, it could give England a big advantage that they haven’t previously had. By the time 2027 rolls around, the Aussies might have a number of batters without much experience in English conditions.
Steve Smith and Ben Stokes speak about County situation
Smith admitted on Saturday that Aussies playing in County cricket could explain why Australia has been more competitive in away Ashes series than England have been Down Under. “A lot of our players have had the opportunity to play some County cricket, playing on some of their wickets, getting used to them, and then over the last couple of years we’ve had players that have played other series in England, so we’ve been exposed to those conditions – and it’s entirely different,” he said. “So that may have something to do with it.”
England captain Ben Stokes admitted he’s never understood why County clubs are so happy to accommodate Australians. “It is odd when you see touring players given opportunities to play County cricket before a big series. I’ve never understood it,” he said. “You never see it anywhere else in the world. I don’t think Australia would sign a visa for one of our lads playing Sheffield Shield games before an Ashes.”