Sayers eyes county stint for Ashes push

While Chadd Sayers’s long-awaited Test debut was overshadowed by the fallout of the ongoing ball-tampering scandal, his new Baggy Green could help deliver a major boost to his hopes of a 2019 Ashes berth.

After barging the door down at domestic level in recent seasons, Sayers finally won a Test cap in last week's series finale against South Africa and picked up the prized scalp of AB de Villiers for his maiden international wicket. 

The prolific paceman was the most economical bowler in a marathon 35-over first innings effort but, by his own admission, dropped off in the Proteas' second dig, going wicketless as Australia slumped to their heaviest defeat in 90 years.

While the loss capped off a miserable series for the tourists, Sayers' international debut has a silver lining beyond his immense pride in becoming Australia's 452nd Test player.

It's understood that Sayers had been exploring a stint in English county cricket for the upcoming season before his Test call-up, but faced a roadblock due to strict United Kingdom visa restrictions on professional cricketers.

Without an international cap or a national contract, Sayers' hopes of being granted a visa looked slim.

But his debut in South Africa means he’s unlikely to encounter any issues in securing one and is optimistic of finding a last-minute deal.

Clubs are only permitted to field one overseas player in first-class County Championship games and many sides have already signed their international players for the 2018 season.

The likes of Test legend Shane Warne questioned Sayers' lack of pace during the fourth Test, and the fast bowler admitted he was short of a yard having gone six weeks without playing before being thrown in the deep end in Johannesburg. 

“My pace was down in the second innings but I guess it is hard with no match fitness and you bowl 35 overs the first (innings),” Sayers told News Ltd.

“I know I can probably bowl better and a little bit quicker but I thought I did a good job in the first innings. I am marking down the Ashes now.

“Hopefully I haven’t been thrown in the bin. To be cap 452 was a dream come true for me and my family.”

Should he lock in a county deal, Sayers would join fellow Test squad member Shaun Marsh (who has signed with Glamorgan) in getting an early look at English conditions ahead of next year's Test series.

Mitch Marsh (Surrey) and Cameron Bancroft (Somerset) have both scrapped plans for stints in the UK – the former because of an ankle injury and the latter due to fallout from the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal. 

Others Australians to have secured deals to play in the Championship include South Australia captain Travis Head (Worcestershire), Daniel Worrall (Gloucestershire), Joe Mennie (Lancashire) and former Test quick Peter Siddle (Essex). 

Queensland opener Matthew Renshaw told cricket.com.au last month that he was also actively pursuing a deal to play in England, while Nathan Lyon (Worcestershire) and Peter Handscomb (Yorkshire) both benefited from county stints last year.

The UK's stringent visa regulations for professional athletes saw Mitchell Starc denied entry to the country ahead of a stint with Yorkshire in 2012.

The left-armer only got as far as Heathrow Airport before being deported by customs officials because the wrong paperwork had been filed. He missed the opening weeks of the season and was only able to link up with the club once he'd obtained the correct visa.