OPPORTUNITY knocks for the 15 cricketers who fly out to Zimbabwe
today. The so-called development squad containing seven full Scottish
caps, five B internationalists, and three newcomers, will play six
one-day games and a three-day match and while this trip may lack the
glamour of recent jaunts to Johannesburg and Cape Town, the incentive to
do well for those selected is just as great.
A few eyebrows were raised when the travelling party was announced
last October -- not so much at those included as the stalwarts omitted.
Openers Iain Philip and Bruce Patterson, George Reifer, and former
skipper Bruce Russell all are missing.
And the term ''development squad'' had an unconvincing ring set
against the original inclusion of eight full internationalists, before
Donald Orr's late withdrawal. ''We need a few experienced players to
pass on good habits, on and off the field,'' was the official SCU
explanation.
Interesting to reflect, then, that the four senior players overlooked
all are professionals with Scottish clubs and, therefore, accustomed to
working with and helping younger players.
It may be safe to assume that Jim Love, Scotland's Yorkshire-born
director of cricket, is trying to mould his own side. And while that
might be bad news for the old guard, it spells hope for the emerging
talent.
The uncapped Arbroath wicketkeeper, Murray Clark, is assured a chance
after Orr's enforced call-off. And the selectors will also be looking
for evidence that batsmen Aidan Docherty, Mark Mudie, and Dominic Rigby
can step up a level.
Love, who has spent the past few weeks at the ICC Associate Members
Cup in Kenya, said: ''I've seen what the established men can do. It's
now up to the fringe players to take their chance.''
His mission in Kenya was to lobby the men who will consider Scotland's
renewed application for associate membership of the ICC later this year.
If successful, the Scots would gain automatic entry to the 1997 Mini
World Cup in England.
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