Cricket’s growing trend? How the success of Twenty20 leagues could lead to a rise in white-ball only contracts

It’s been over a year since Adil Rashid sparked debate across the cricket world – not with a spinning delivery, but by signing a piece of paper.

The England leg-spinner drew criticism after turning his back on first-class cricket by agreeing a white-ball only contract with his county Yorkshire in February 2018.

Read more: Meet the man behind the mower: Lord's groundsman Karl McDermott

Having been recalled for England’s Test side last summer, Rashid returned to playing all formats through a new Yorkshire deal in September – but his initial groundbreaking decision is now beginning to look more attractive to his fellow professionals.

Last week fast bowler Harry Gurney took the plunge, retiring from County Championship duty and signing a short-format-only deal with Nottinghamshire in order to pursue Twenty20 cricket.

Gurney, a brilliant death bowler armed with an array of variations, has carved out a niche to earn double his former wage by playing in the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Pakistan and now India.

Gurney helped Melbourne Renegades win Australia's Big Bash this year (Source: Getty)

“I’m a realist and I think that’s the way it’s going,” he told the Telegraph. “It’s moving that way a lot faster than people realise.”

For Gurney, who is 32, has taken 310 first-class wickets and won 12 caps for England, it is understandable to seek a new, shorter and better-paid experience.

So far he, Nottinghamshire team-mate Alex Hales and Sussex fast bowler Tymal Mills remain in the minority. But with T20 franchise leagues multiplying, could a trickle develop into a flood?

Pinnacle of the game

The Professional Cricketers Association aren’t worried just yet. Last summer 89 per cent of its members said they still viewed Test cricket as the pinnacle of the sport, meaning the lure of an England call-up remains strong for the vast majority.

“We’re certainly positive about players having alternative career opportunities, choice and decisions to make around the world,” PCA player contracts advisor Richard Hudson tells City A.M.

“The amount of cricket that’s going on elsewhere, that offers our members the chance to play, have new experiences, challenge their games, take it to a new level and earn from is great.

“We don’t feel this is going to be a significant trend. The players that English cricket would be really worried about is those in the 20-30 bracket – losing players who are walking away from red-ball cricket to just chase franchise contracts.

"We feel English county cricket into international cricket remains a really attractive and viable career route for our members."

Adil Rashid's success has seen him go back to the longest format after signing a white-ball deal (Source: Getty)

Losing younger players is not yet the case, but others feel the direction of travel means it could soon become a real possibility.

“It’s going to be hard for young players coming through,” James Welch, director of player agency Quantum Sport, tells City A.M. “If they’re good in white-ball cricket they’re going to have a lot of opportunities.

“At the moment guys are making those decisions in their late 20s, early 30s to go down the white-ball route, but it might accelerate.

“I think the ECB have got to make it attractive for young players to play Test cricket. With the incentives now, if they’re a good T20 or one-day cricketer, there’s going to be so much interest in them because there are so many tournaments.”

Getting the balance right

Players are being pulled in all directions by the proliferation of choice. Already there is nearly a T20 competition for every month of the year. And with the ECB’s Hundred launching in 2020 and Ireland, Scotland and Holland setting up a cross-nation T20 competition this summer, the bubble is yet to show signs of bursting.

“I think it’s really difficult for the counties and the player to get the right balance,” adds Welch, who represents England’s David Willey and Mark Wood. “Obviously if you’re paying somebody for 12 months of the year you want them to play all forms, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult with the schedules to do that.”

While it is generally players weighing up their options, the shoe is sometimes on the other foot, with counties also benefiting from specialised contracts.

“I think it’s important to recognise that this isn’t purely another ‘player power’ issue as some have made out – counties are also taking this option in cases where they don’t want to pay a player for all three formats any more,” explains another UK-based agent, who wishes to remain anonymous.

The Indian Premier League is an attractive proposition to English cricketers (Source: Getty)

“Both players and counties see that structuring contracts based on a player’s strengths may free up budget elsewhere. It’s inevitable that we’ll see more and more players on specialist contracts.”

The view that the longest form of the game is the best still holds sway across the country. As such, many take a dim view of players altering their careers to chase T20’s riches. But it seems the opening up of the market could see more players tempted away from tradition.

“With anything new and untested there is always likely to be resistance,” adds the UK agent. “I hope that with time fans will understand that players have a duty to themselves and their careers as well as their counties.”