Why Hamilton is taking a direct approach to overseas signings

As a player, Gavin Hamilton played with one of the finest overseas signings that the game has ever seen.

- by Chris Waters

For several seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he was a teammate at Yorkshire of the great Darren Lehmann.

Now, in his capacity as the club's general manager of cricket, Hamilton is charged with finding those who can follow in Lehmann's footsteps.

It is no easy task, and, as with Darren Gough before him, and also Martyn Moxon, he is all too aware of the obstacles involved.

"I don't need to explain how hard it is to get an overseas player nowadays," said Hamilton, who took up his new role in November.

"To actually get a Darren Lehmann that's here six months a year just doesn't exist. That's just a no-go.

"With no objection certificates needed as well, and international boards being really restrictive on how many overs bowlers can bowl, for example, it's a lot different now, but that's where we are these days in terms of overseas cricket."

Lehmann apart, it is difficult to think of an overseas signing who has consistently impressed for Yorkshire over a significant time frame.

The majority tend to dip in and out anyway, with the volume of international cricket having increased steadily too.