One doesn't have to look at the University cricket to se what is happening.
Here is a list (a quick work I must admit and there must be the odd omission) of players of Asian origin in the County Championship over the last sixty years.
Code:
[B]YEAR/ Total Asian % of Non England Balance Played for
Season Players Origin Asians Test players England[/B]
1960 442 5 1.1 5 0 0
1970 358 11 3.1 9 2 0
1980 379 18 4.7 12 6 0
1990 468 12 2.6 5 7 4
2000 459 33 7.2 5 28 8
2009 482 55 11.4 12 43 11
In 1960 the only Asian origin players playing in England were those playing for the Universities or those who had moved from University to counties. All, however played for their own countries.
In 1970 foreign professionals were becoming common (mostly Pakistanis). Their numbers increased substantially by 1980's with two 'foreign' professionals per county side.
It is only in the last ten to fifteen years that the number of Asian Origin cricketers who are not professionals from international sides has increased suddenly. There number, however, remains just about ten percent of the total number of county cricketers. Not such a big number in today's world. The worrying aspect ofr England is that about a quarter of them are ending up playing for England.
So not only is the number of ethnic English boys going down in the ranks, their standards would appear to be declining.
I am sure the figures would appear worse if one took into account cricketers from other countries around the world into account.
One keeps hearing from friends in England about how the policy of taking foreign professionals has been bad for English cricket. I am not so sure that address the real issue. Is the young English lad really keen on the game? And how good are they at it anyway?