The Scottish Saltires were to have pitted their skills against the Welsh Dragons in Uddingston on CB40 duty at the weekend until the weather intervened.

The hope was that would provide fresh evidence of the progress being made by Pete Steindl's side.

Yet the match ought also to have offered a template as to how Associate cricket might advance in future seasons, given that there is no reason why Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Netherlands could not join forces to create a European event, which would be a natural progression from what already exists in rugby.

Such ideas have to be discussed now, because the probability is that the English counties will not continue to allow the Scots and the Dutch entry to the CB40 competition on an indefinite basis. Although Roddy Smith, the chief executive of Cricket Scotland, restated his commitment to that limited-overs tournament last week, prior to his compatriots running Surrey close and defeating the Notts Outlaws in their first two fixtures, he is too much of a pragmatist not to appreciate that the English organisations recently rejected the recommendations of the Morgan Report and are determined to arrange a greater number of Twenty20 matches in future.

It might not happen overnight but, in the next two or three years, the ICC's Associate members will have to demonstrate they possess the long-term vision to survive and thrive without relying on hand-outs from counties, many of whom are struggling financially.

In which light, the need for innovation is obvious, and an annual Five (or Six) Nations Championship is one means by which the emerging countries could assist one another. The Irish have already departed the CB40 ranks, and are doing their utmost to persuade the ICC to grant them Full Member status, in addition to searching for enhanced funding from the governing body's new Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme. While their ambition is admirable, they are being forced to rely at the moment on a piecemeal fixture itinerary, which denies them regular high-profile contests, and restricts them to the occasional chance to test their mettle against an England or Australia.

How much better the situation would be if they, and their European neighbours, knew that they would be involved in an eight-match competition, played on a home and away basis, every summer. At present, the Irish are flying high, and, akin to their rugby provinces, seem to be churning out a formidable seam of talent. The Scots, too, are showing signs of raising their game, though, and have plenty of fine, young players with their best years in front of them, allied to a burgeoning crop of Under-19s, who will participate at the World Cup later this year.

Netherlands, despite accusations that they are overly reliant on South African and Australian recruits with tenuous Dutch links, have recorded some excellent results since being invited to join the CB40 and won both their matches, against Gloucester and Worcester, last weekend. As for Wales, their best performers used to graduate naturally into the England side – a path which was followed by such as Tony Lewis, Matthew Maynard and Robert Croft – but that supply line appears to have virtually dried up, which means there is merit in the Welsh joining a pioneering European tournament, just as they have done in rugby union's RaboDirect PRO12.

Their inclusion would bring the number of representatives to four and, although the identity of the fifth might require a few shards of imagination, the best outcome appears to be the formation of a "Rest of Europe" squad, which would offer opportunities to the cream of Italy, Denmark, the Channel Islands and wherever else promising players are produced. This team might have to embark on a steep learning curve, and suffer a few poor campaigns, but there is hardly a nation in Europe where cricket is not being played, and the ICC is dedicated to investing throughout the region, so a European Championship would be a logical next step in the process.

With five teams involved in the structure, this event would provide all the participants with eight matches: a number which, backed by fixtures against touring Test sides, and such entities as development parties and academy squads, would bring the Associates closer to achieving their objective of forging a schedule which makes sense, for players, coaches, sponsors and supporters alike. And it would also encourage the emerging sides to market their new product and stand on their own feet.