Scotland journey is mixed pleasure (2 June 1999)

2 June 1999

Scotland journey is mixed pleasure

Keith Graham

Scotland's great World Cup adventure ended up as a bitter-sweet experience. Disappointment that they had failed to win a single game was, however, tempered by the enormity of the experience.

Even Keith Sheridan who, together with Pete Steindl, did not get a start in any of Scotland's five games, cannot wait for the next World Cup to come round. "I want to be in South Africa, 2003," was his unequivocal view after another spell as drinks waiter in Monday's final game against New Zealand.

The Scots had sailed into uncharted territory. It all began so well when they gave Australia a more competitive game than perhaps the joint favourites had expected at Worcester. Bruce Patterson stroked the first ball to the boundary and Scotland had arrived. So, too, had the 2,000-strong 'Tartan Army'. Throughout, support was tremendous.

The biggest failing was in the batting. None of the top order batsmen got going. Coach Jim Love and captain George Salmond believed that the lack of exposure to bowling of the highest quality left them short on basic technique, especially on quicker wickets, which are a rarity in Scotland. The new indoor facility coming on stream later this year should help bridge that gap.

But the bowling was of a high quality. John Blain, who took only one wicket less than England's leading wicket taker Darren Gough, led an attack, unchanged throughout the tournament.

Therein is revealed a problem for the rest of the season during which the Scots have many more games to play, none more important than their NatWest meeting with Surrey this month.

Gavin Hamilton may have played his last game for Scotland. His achievement in scoring more runs than any English batsman (23 more than Nasser Hussain) will not have been missed by the England selectors while Blain's success will have been noted by his employers, Northamptonshire.

So, if Love is not quite faced with a clean sheet, changes are inevitable. The crop of youngsters who made such progress during the Under 19s World Cup, may find that their time has come. It is an inescapable fact that now Scotland's cricketers have had a first glimpse of the promised land, their appetites have been whetted.

For those such as Iain Philip, Scotland's most successful batsman, for whom this was a swan song: well, at least, they got there !

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph