'English domestic cricket not the same'

English domestic cricket, which attracted the likes of Imran Khan to hone their skills, is suffering from the lack of quality of overseas professionals since private T20 leagues around the world have become more lucrative, writes Richard Gibson in the Guardian.

In this generation of Twenty20 riches, there is neither the time nor money for English counties to sign the superstars any more. In fact, they cannot sign anyone who commands international acclaim. At least, not for very long.

Gone are the days when our domestic scene was awash with those at the top table. The days when Imran Khan was feted for his efforts with Sussex, when Gordon Greenidge and Malcolm Marshall were as much a part of Hampshire as Paul Terry or Mark Nicholas, when Sir Viv Richards and Joel Garner thought of Taunton as a second home.