England's Croft wants overseas players barred

Overseas players should be barred from county cricket, England off-spinner Robert Croft said on Sunday.

"If it was up to me I would have no overseas players in our game as they take up the places of home-grown players," the 31-year-old was quoted as saying in the News of the World tabloid newspaper.

Croft said: "I feel strongly about it but it is nothing personal. We have a fantastic overseas player at Glamorgan in Jimmy Maher from Australia. But the fact is overseas players take a place that could go to someone from within the counties."

Croft, who has played for England in 21 tests and 50 one-day internationals, said: "We have some good young players at Glamorgan and I would like to see them coming through."

The 18 first-class counties in England are each allowed to register one overseas player per season.

Mail Cricket Editor