2009 SNCL season starts with a Scotland Under 19's double header
While the full programme of fixtures for the SNCL does not commence until Saturday 2 May the Scotland U19s will commence their season this weekend,, their second in the top tier of the SNCL, with matches against Uddingston and Ayr. Performance Development Manager Craig Wright will again be in charge of the squad assisted by Willie Morton and Ron Fleming.
Commenting on the season ahead, Craig said: “The SNCL programme for the U19s is a vital part of our preparation for an important summer ahead with the first stage of the World Cup qualifiers coming up in July. Playing matches against experienced club players, internationalists and overseas players in the SNCL will aid the 19s in their development and match toughness. The SNCL matches are part of a fully developed season long fixture programme for the team which also includes matches against county academies, the Scotland Lions and the Star Club of India. The ten matches in the SNCL are to be played before the European Championships, and we hope to build up a head of steam and find some good form in these games leading into that tournament.
On the whole it is my view that exposure to a good number of highly competitive fixtures in addition to good coaching support is vital for these lads to have the best opportunity to progress over the next few years from good junior players to become good contributors for the senior national team in the future.”
Although it is early in the season and form has yet to be established both Ayr and Uddingston will no doubt test the youngsters. Ayr won the corresponding fixture last year by five wickets, while the Uddingston match unfortunately did not take place.
Uddingston have recruited well during the winter with Imran Adrees and Iain Stewart moving from Poloc, Vince Bird from Weirs and the captain’s brother Sandy Bawa returning from Oxford. They also see the return of their 2005 Overseas Amateur Tom Plant who will this year be the club’s professional. Plant had an average of 62.72 scoring 690 runs and he will be joined by Tom Moffat from Adelaide. Moffat has already showed that he will be a useful acquisition making 60 last weekend when Uddingston defeated Poloc to retain the Eric Lane Memorial Trophy. Ricky Bawa, in his eighth year as captain, hopes that with the additions to the squad this will lead to stronger competition for places and improved performances on the park and is looking to at least better last years fourth place finish. He is also hoping for a good night's sleep before the match after the birth of his first child ten days ago!
Ayr will be without their professional, Canterbury’s Michael Papps, for Sunday’s encounter as the paperwork has not yet come through for him, a situation which a lot of clubs are finding themselves in at the moment. They do not intend to have an Overseas Amateur, but have attracted the former Prestwick captain Fraser MacDonald to the club, and he should be a useful addition to their squad. Spokesman Andy Baird believes the experience of Papps with 100 First Class matches to his credit will be beneficial to the team and he hopes they will show the same spirit and commitment as last year, he is also looking for Andi McElnea and Neil Smith to progress after having good season last year.
Short scores for both matches will appear on the Cricket Scotland web site as soon as practical after the completion of the matches, followed by full scorecards.
Squads
Ayr:- PD Wilson (capt), AJ McElnea, MG Renny, NJ McCrossin, N Smith, D I
Johnstone, F MacDonald, ST Rafiq, S McElnea, AM Baird, C Leck, C McLaughlin
Uddingston:- R Bawa (capt),PJC Hoffmann, G Bradley, G Clarke, T Moffat, J Johnston, I Adrees, DW Bill, M Townson, IM Stewart, TC Plant
Scotland U19s:- CG Burnett (capt) FRJ Coleman, MA Parker, EF Chalmers, CD Wallace, MJ Petrie, R Lamb, A Bailwal, MEM Bremner, AMG Brock, KW Morton
