17 Nov 2010

O'Brien fails in appeal to be counted as local English player

7:37 am on 17 November 2010

The Middlesex bowler Iain O'Brien's appeal against the England and Wales Cricket Board's decision to reject him as a non-overseas player has failed.

The New Zealander has an English wife so can work in England but cannot fulfil his contract at Middlesex.

O'Brien, who's 34, must find a county without an overseas player for next season or face the prospect of quitting.

O'Brien is one season into a three-year contract with Middlesex that stipulated he'd play as an overseas player for the first year but a non-overseas player for the next two.

Ironically, if his wife had been from any other European Union state, O'Brien would be able to play as a local.