Pietersen case brings the transfer era ever nearer

An official transfer system for English cricket is being considered. The Professional Cricketers' Association will ask consultants this week to produce a report and will shortly hold discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board and the 18 first-class counties.

The issue has come to the fore again as more players than ever are changing clubs. That trend will continue as counties try to achieve a balance between reducing playing staff to save money with the need to gain promotion or avoid relegation.

Clubs have become increasingly irked at what they perceive to be the unfairness of an outmoded practice which sees them nurture and invest in young players who then leave. Their mood has been exacerbated because some players recently have sought to depart while still under contract.

Although the million-pound cricketer is likely to remain a figment of the imagination, the argument for change has been accelerated by the case of Kevin Pietersen. He wants to leave Nottinghamshire despite having a year left of a four-year contract. The county are insisting he stays. But the reality is that if they could get compensation from another club they would let him go.

Richard Bevan, the chief executive of the PCA, reiterated the organisation's belief in the "principle of sanctity of contract", but said that it was clearly not in anyone's interests for a county to have an unhappy squad.

"In this context perhaps it is time for the game's stakeholders to raise the issue of a transfer system for debate," said Bevan. "We will talk to the ECB and the counties about this in the near future."

In a game hardly awash with money, it will not be straightforward to inaugurate a system where players are bought and sold. A new standard contract, drawn up between the ECB and PCA, for all English professionals may help to circumvent it. "This should be a template for employers and employees in cricket," said Bevan. "It is a contract for all players, replacing things like list-one and list-two players. It is very significant."

Unless either party backs down - and there is scant indication of that - the dispute between Pietersen and Nottinghamshire is unlikely to be resolved quickly. The PCA are anxious to keep lawyers out of the matter and have to tread delicately. They are representing a player who wants to break his contract.

The association are also angry that the Pietersen case became public. Details of the dispute were leaked by the player's solicitor because Pietersen was frustrated at the lack of progress.

"We have always emphasised that both sides should abide by their contract," said Bevan. "If it is broken, then there are consequences. No amount of public exposure will alter that - either the parties reach a compromise or a court will decide the issue for them. The PCA is not in favour of court action, but that is a decision for Nottinghamshire CCC, Kevin Pietersen and their advisers."

It is highly improbable that Pietersen will play for Nottinghamshire next summer but potential suitors, recognising the potential legal repercussions, are remaining silent. He was linked with Somerset last week but it hard to see him playing in Taunton. Pietersen wants to be near London and in the First Division.

The richly promising, self-assured batsman of 23 has already had a tortuous career after opting to leave South Africa to qualify for England. He may yet become the first player for whom compensation is paid: effectively the first player to be transferred.