Cricket: West ‘delighted’ to bring John Blain on board

Published on 01/03/2012 04:06

WEST of Scotland were last night celebrating the signing of former Saltires star John Blain. Blain, released by county giants Yorkshire in a major staff cull four months ago, will join the Hamilton Crescent club as player-coach in time for the new season.

West president Gordon Smith said: “We’re delighted to attract someone of John’s calibre and experience. The club took a decision not to go down the route of bringing in an overseas ‘hired assassin’.

“Our emphasis is more on developing from within and John Blain’s coaching pedigree is first class. He knows where he wants to go and I’m confident he will be a great asset on and off the field for West of Scotland.”

Blain, who turned down several offers in club cricket south of the Border, said: “I’m grateful to West for giving me the opportunity to continue developing as a coach.

“I had the good fortune to work with some excellent young players at the Yorkshire Academy and hope to do the same at Hamilton Crescent.

“West are undoubtedly one of the biggest cricket clubs in Scotland and it is a pleasure to join them.”

Blain helped develop rising England stars like Jonathan Bairstow and Joe Root during his time with Yorkshire.

However, he was deemed surplus to requirements when the troubled Headingley outfit restructured their coaching set-up following the first team’s relegation from division one of the County Championship.

Fast bowler Blain came through the ranks at his home-town club Penicuik before moving to SNCL side Heriot’s. He became Scotland’s youngest cap in more than a century when he was handed his debut at the age of 17 before playing in the 1999 World Cup, where he had the best strike-rate of any bowler in the tournament.

Blain moved south and spent seven seasons with Northants before moving to Yorkshire.

His 117-cap Scotland career came to a premature end following a public bust-up with friend and former national captain Gavin Hamilton on the eve of the 2009 T20 World Cup.

As well as being a promising coach, at just 33 years old he remains a skilful seam bowler and capable batsman, and his signing will boost West’s chances of success in the inaugural Western Premier Division.