Scottish Cricket: Maiden bowled over by call-up (14 May 1998)

14 May 1998

Scottish Cricket: Maiden bowled over by call-up

By Keith Graham

WEST of Scotland's young off-spinner Gregor Maiden will make his debut for Scotland at Lord's next week in the annual two-day fixture against MCC.

Maiden, 19, one of the top performers for Scotland in the junior World Cup in South Africa earlier this year, spent the rest of the winter playing club cricket in Australia.

He said: "It was a complete shock because I didn't even know the game was on. The MCC match is usually later in the season so I had no inkling it was coming up."

Maiden, who will be hoping to impress the selectors before the Commonwealth Games in September and next season's World Cup, added: "I am delighted as it is every cricketer's dream to play at Lord's."

Maiden is the only new cap in a side which shows several changes from the Benson & Hedges squad which acquitted itself so well last week. Record run-scorer Iain Philip is recalled to lead the team in place of George Salmond who will be attending World Cup meetings.

Coach Jim Love will also have the opportunity to take a further look at James Brinkley, the former Worcestershire pace bowler who impressed during the B&H campaign. Also recalled is Freuchie pace bowler David Cowan, opening batsman Steve Crawley, currently in good form for Grange, left-arm spinner Andy Tennant and wicketkeeper Donald Orr.

SCOTLAND: I Philip (Stenhousemuir, capt), M Allingham (Heriot's), D Cowan (Freuchie), S Crawley (Grange), B Lockie (Carlton), G Maiden, C Wright (West of Scotland), D Orr (Beckenham), A Tennant (Prestwick), J Brinkley . 12th man: G Butchart (Dunfermline).

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