Cricket: Grange call on teenage prospect to boost squad

Barclays WEALTH GRANGE look set to turn to a Scottish cricket prospect fresh from honing skills at the school which produced future England great David Gower when bidding to get their Premiership challenge back on track tomorrow against Greenock at Raeburn Place.

James Hearn, an 18-year-old all-rounder, is back home in Edinburgh from King's School, Canterbury, where he has been undertaking a scholarship under the watchful eye of the Kent county cricket authorities.

Says Grange captain Sanjay Patel: "James is a very useful prospect as he has shown in a few games for us in the past.

"With a few of our regulars battling injury we have had to delay final selection so it is ideal to have someone like James available for the rest of the summer."

Hearn came to prominence a few years ago when he performed the rare feat of hitting 150 in a Grange under-15 match. He was also part of the team which captured the club's first Scottish under-18 cup in 2010.

All the Capital premiership sides are at home. Heriot's go for a sixth straight league win, against bottom place Drumpellier, on the back of what captain Steve Knox describes as "the toughest selection dilemma I've had in my time at the club".

Knox was referring to the decision to demote Gavin McIntyre, the club's most experienced player, who has made 191 league appearances and has amassed 16 half centuries and 191 stumpings or catches.

Knox said: "Gavin is only available two weekends out of three and isn't available next week, so with everybody doing a job it was felt best he tried to get some runs in the 2nds. It was very difficult decision, but this is the best squad of players we've had at Heriot's in recent years."

Retaining his place is Irishman Keith Allen, an Edinburgh University student who stepped in for a league debut with his right arm medium pace deliveries and claimed wickets with his first two deliveries against Stoneywood-Dyce a week ago.

Also, Sean Weeraratna is expected to recover from a hamstring strain as Heriot's look to consolidate an all-important top four place in the quest for the new play-off spots.

Almost guaranteed their play-off place are unbeaten Carlton, who go into a home match against Clydesdale without Steve Gilmour and Cedric English but with Preston Mommsen returning and a promotion for 2nd X1 century maker Aravind Srinavasan.

Watsonians, just outside the top four, await West with Ryan Flannigan boosted by his recall to the Scotland squad to face Ireland and Sri Lanka at Raeburn Place next week.

The only change is Raj Routray in for Andy Learmonth.