LONDON (CMC):

IF A former England captain gets his way, the small window of hope that has opened for West Indies players to play in the English County Championship will be plugged.

Mike Gatting has vowed to help counties produce more England-qualified players, and he is keen to reduce the number of overseas players from the current number of 50.

"Overseas players have been wonderful for the game but if we can get more English players, that's good for English cricket," Gatting said in an interview with BBC Sport.

"If people can't do that we should be looking to try and help them so they can produce some English players."

Gatting was appointed recently to the position of director of cricket partnerships - a role which seeks to improve communication between the first-class counties and the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Long-standing West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul is expected to make another appearance for Durham next season, after a successful first season in which he helped the county win two limited-overs competitions.

Imbalance

He is likely to be joined on the county circuit by fellow left-hander Wavell Hinds at Derbyshire, fast bowler Jerome Taylor at Leicester-shire, left-arm fast bowler Pedro Collins at Surrey and off-spin all-rounder Omari Banks at Somerset.

Next season, counties will be allowed only one overseas player, but many will get around this stipulation by picking players who have European Union passports or qualify under the Kolpak rule.

The Kolpak ruling means that cricketers who are from the EU or countries which have an associate trading relationship with England, like South Africa or the West Indies, can be signed by counties.

However, Gatting is determined to get into the faces and the ears of the County chairmen to have them redress the imbalance.

"There are questions I'm going to be asking the chairmen and they are the questions I'd like to have answers to," he said.

Quality players

"A lot of it is possibly to do with success and trying to stay in contention with the divisions. It will be interesting to see their answers and that's why I need to get around to seeing people."

Gatting, however, believes the county system is producing enough quality players for the England team, despite his concerns.

"You only have to look at the people who have got in over the last two or three years," he said.

Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad - all good young guys. Owais Shah has been in and out and has got back in.

"I think there are a lot of good cricketers out there and I think county cricket is much maligned in many ways."

The ECB has come up with a creative way of enticing the counties to select as many England-qualified players as the can. They have provided cash incentives - £85 for one-day games, and £340 for four-day matches.