The influx of overseas players to the Sussex League has been stemmed somewhat this season by tighter eligibility restrictions.

Also the insistence, generally, by the ECU that Premier League clubs should have ten of their eleven players for any game qualified to play for England has limited the number of overseas players.

Anomalies have, however, crept in and the Sussex League has a rule that does allow players 'normally resident' in this country to play regardless of the 'England' qualification.

In recent seasons there have been a number of so called 'passports of convenience' that clubs have considered and a European Union passport has, prior to this season, allowed a player to take part in the Sussex League without restriction.

That no longer applies although EU regulations exempt such players who are contracted county professionals. This has to happen to accord with EU employment regulations.

As such a player such as Mark Davis or Bas Zuiderent at Sussex would be classed as an overseas player were they amateurs or ordinary club players.

The lack of consistency by the ECB is little short of extraordinary. In the recent game at Hastings, where the Sussex Board met Shropshire, the Sussex Board were not allowed to play Tim van Noort who is ordinarily resident and qualified by a passport to be employed in County cricket without the restrictions on overseas players.

Yet in the same Cheltenham and Gloucester competition the full Sussex side will be allowed to include any of the six staff players born overseas. It is difficult for people involved in club cricket to understand the situation but contracted professionals qualify under totally different regulations.

This season each Sussex league club is allowed one overseas player.

But Tim Ambrose, classified as such last season, was able to play last weekend for Eastbourne as a contracted pro allowing Eastbourne to also include Namibian Bjorn Kotze.

Andy Sartor at Brighton and Hove is a South African who also has an Italian passport but he has to play as an overseas player. However Zuiderent, also with a European passport, may play is the same Brighton and Hove team but as a contracted player is exempt from being classified as such.

Mark Davis can play for East Grinstead when not required by Sussex and the club may also field an overseas player.

There has been criticism in some quarters of the Sussex League administration for tightening up the regulations, but it is the ECB who have re-drafted the regulations in an effort to offer the chance to more English born players to develop.

However when Hastings thought van Noort might have to be classed as an overseas player this year the ECB backed down and apparently agreed with the club that he should be exempt from their own regulations governing such players.

After exploring all aspects of the 'new' regulations some exciting new overseas players have emerged this season among the League clubs at Premier level.

Phil Stanbridge at Three Bridges and Tim Cruickshank at Haywards Heath are relatively young Australians who play first grade cricket in Sydney.

Ben Cameron from Adelaide and Brett Whittaker are two more Australians at Worthing and Chichester respectively while Western Australian David Hussey at Horsham has already made his mark for his clubs and the Sussex Board - not to mention already writing off his Horsham club car!

Bjorn Kotze, the Namibian at Eastbourne has also created an early impression for his club.

The only overseas man in the Premier League to return for a second season this year is Naeem Akhtar at Crowborough, albeit make a major contribution to his club's victory last Saturday.

In the Second Division Kashif Ibrahim is back for his third season at Lewes Priory and seems certain to add quality to his team's performances as the season develops, Peter Cross is back from Australia for a second season with Stirlands and Pat Garda from Zimbabwe is with Preston Nomads among the overseas lads with clubs playing outside the Premiership.

As usual these players will add to the history of their clubs and, in turn, will doubtless enjoy playing cricket in England, some for the first time but if we are to ensure our cricket at all levels continues to improve care must be taken to avoid too many in each team. Maybe the ECB needs to look at its rules with a view to showing a bit more consistency.