Scots taking to the high road (1 May 1998)

1 May 1998

Scots taking to the high road

By Keith Graham

SCOTLAND'S cricketers begin a hectic season tomorrow when they play Yorkshire at Linlithgow in the first of their Benson and Hedges Cup matches.

The Scots then travel to Worcester and Durham before facing Derbyshire at Forfar next Friday.

It would be better from a Scottish perspective if these games were scheduled for later in a season during which virtually full-time cricket is on the menu.

Unfortunately for the Scots, the only practice most of them have had so far has been limited to nets due to poor weather.

There are two interesting new names in Scotland's squad, the fast bowler James Brinkley, who, after four years with Worcestershire, has jumped at the chance to play for the country of his birth in spite of an accent which betrays his Australian education. He is joined by Asim Butt, whose brisk, skiddy left-armers will add another interesting option.

Brinkley at least has had some cricket, as has the 20-year-old left-hander Drew Parsons, making his cup debut after a successful winter in Australia.

Bryn Lockie is chosen to partner the experienced Bruce Patterson, while also making their cup debuts are the off-spinner Nick Dyer and all-rounder Craig Wright.

The talented Mike Smith is only available for tomorrow's game because of no work commitments. Smith's unavailability thereafter illustrates one of Scotland's main problems.

These are amateurs, although the Scottish Cricket Union have negotiated agreements with the employers of most of their squad. This move, however, will help send the union into the red.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)