Australian batsman Mal Serplet has blasted proposals to ban overseas cricketers from Shropshire’s top cricket league, declaring: “It’s a backward step.”

Officials at Albrighton have tabled the motion to kick professionals out of the Marston’s Shropshire Premier League – and a vote will be taken at its AGM at Reman Services in Shrewsbury on Monday.

Serplet originally came to the country as the overseas pro at Perkins, now Reman Services, but has since become a naturalised Brit.

He captained Reman to the league title in 2008 and believes it would damage the competition if overseas players were to be excluded in future.

“The pros we have had have made an improvement not only to our players, but to morale as well,” he said.

“We didn’t have a pro last season and we have no plans to have one next season either, but I still think it would be a backward step to go down that road.

“Having a pro makes the game better in my eyes – it makes it more competitive and gives it an edge.

“It’s a challenge when you come up against good players and it improves players’ games to play against the pros – I’ve seen that here and at other clubs.”

Serplet also admits the issue is one that is close to his heart, having seen his life change direction completely since his move to the UK.

Changed

“We will definitely vote against the proposal and I know personally that it’s changed my life to be able to come and play over here,” he added.

“I live here now and I have a young daughter. If I hadn’t been given the opportunity then I don’t know where my life would be. It’s quite a sore point for me.”

The genial Aussie accepts the accusation of those backing the proposed ban that some games have become rather one-sided as a result of an overseas player dominating.

But he believes a better solution would be to limit bowlers to 10 overs per innings.

He also advocates bringing the league in line with the First Class one-day game by abolishing winning and losing draws and running it instead on a straight win/loss basis.

“It would give more people an opportunity to be involved in the game and it’s definitely the road I’d go down,” added Serplet.

“It’s been proposed in the past but has always been rejected out of hand before it’s even really got going.”