Botham bats for transfer reform as Coughlin leaves Durham

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board should introduce a transfer system that will reward counties for producing promising cricketers, former national team captain Ian Botham has said.

Durham chairman Botham expressed his frustration after 24-year-old all-rounder Paul Coughlin signed a three-year contract with Nottinghamshire after rejecting a new deal with his side.

Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell is also an England selector and Botham feels that could have played a part in Coughlin’s decision to swap sides.

“They need to introduce a transfer or similar system of compensation, (and) to remove the potential for conflict of interest by preventing serving directors of cricket acting as selectors,” Botham said in a statement on Durham’s website.

“The ECB is currently reviewing its partnership agreement with the counties and Durham will be making strong representations to properly reward those that invest in the development of local talent.”