Cricket: Edinburgh to host England clash with Saltires

Published on Thursday 24 September 2009 09:20

Edinburgh is set to stage top class international cricket again next season with confirmation today that England will tackle the Scottish Saltires on Saturday 19 June.

It will be the second one day international between the countries, the original, also at Raeburn Place, having been washed out in 2008 with England 10 without loss chasing a target of 156-9.

Roddy Smith, Cricket Scotland chief executive, said: "It is highly, highly likely that the venue for the visit of England will be the Grange ground at Raeburn Place.

"It is central and arrangements worked well when Australia were here last month.

"Having a Saturday fixture is a big bonus and to enable club players to get along there is every intention of moving the national league and probably district league fixtures also back by 24 hours.

In 1995 Scotland entertained West Indies on a Saturday at Raeburn Place in front of a bumper crowd who saw the hosts lose the unofficial encounter by 47 runs.

Smith added: "The all-round support we receive from the ECB is fantastic, not only with the visit of their national side but also their assistance with our national development programmes."

The final Scotland fixture list for 2010 is still be finalised but with New Zealand and India having A sides in England attempts are likely to be made to lure them north.

An inter-continental cup clash with Zimbabwe is also on the cards with the setting Dubai while qualifying for the next world twenty:20 competition will be held in February.