IT is impossible to ignore the impact of overseas players on our local cricket scene – especially this season.
Australian fast bowler Joel Hamilton has helped propel Grimsby Town to the top of the Lincs ECB Premier League, while Azeem Ghumman has settled in well at Louth.
Both players have been in sensational form – with 11 wickets and 252 runs respectively – but have also found useful support from their domestic team-mates.
Overseas players are often seen as a waste of money, but that couldn't be further from reality.
In simple terms they strengthen the playing ranks of a club, but also provide a useful coaching outlet.
Above all, they are vital to the development of a club, especially in the sense of integrating fresh beliefs, theories and approaches.
While it may be impossible to ignore their direct impact, it would be naive to negate their influence behind the scenes.
In addition to that, they have provided top local players with an opportunity to live and play abroad, which can only have a positive influence on cricket in the county.
As skipper of Caistor Town in the Lincolnshire County League Premier Division, I can appreciate what overseas players bring to the table.
It has been a tough season for the club so far, especially with it being our first year minus an overseas player.
In four highly successful years with Caistor, Sri Lankan Sahan Wijerathne scored close to 4,000 runs and weighed in with 190 wickets.
That should have been enough for the players around him to build on, but instead we suffered relegation and three failed promotion charges.
That is not an ideal scenario, but it was a major factor in our decision to opt against employing another pro.
Having a good quality professional to call upon is an absolute joy for a captain. However, facing a year without that luxury presents its own challenge – one the boys at Caistor are keen to embrace.
There are some positive signs at Brigg Road, and our young team are eagerly awaiting this afternoon's challenge, as Bracebridge Heath 2nds visit us. And, with a full-strength squad available, it feels like our time to push on.
Whatever will be will be for Caistor this season, but we will never forget the impact of Wijerathne.
