Somerset captain Justin Langer has leapt to the defence of County Championship cricket.

Langer fears initiatives like the new Twenty20 Champions League tournament could bring changes to the domestic game in England.

"Anyone who thinks they should change the format of first-class cricket to me would be crazy," the 37-year-old Australian told BBC Points West.

"It's producing brilliant cricket, some of the best cricket of my career."

He continued: "The first-class cricket in Division One is as good as any cricket I have ever played, and that includes all our domestic cricket back at home. I never thought I'd say that.

"I truly believe that any of the young players who crack it at this level are ready for international cricket, and I'm not necessarily sure I could have said that in the past."