Cricket: Lockie and Worker to debut at Penicuik

New Zealand under-19 cap George Worker flies in early to take up his role, while the professional championship side have also persuaded 37-times capped Scotland batsman Bryn Lockie to emerge from retirement.

During a distinguished stint at Carlton before standing down last season, Lockie, 42, a member of the Scotland squad which qualified for the 1999 World Cup, compiled 4124 top league runs, putting him comfortably within that competition's all-time top 20 performers with the bat.

SMRH captain Greg Bissett is delighted with the signing coup and says that Worker, a member of NZ Central Districts team, will arrive in good nick. "George comes with a very positive reference from our former pro Simon Wilson," said Bissett.

As for Penicuik they will take heart from having beaten an Edinburgh Accies side who, earlier in the campaign, accounted for SMRH. Also, Penicuik this week cruised into the second round of the Murgitroyd Masterton twenty:20 Trophy at Leith FAB, whose 67-run target they passed with two wickets down. Top match in the Premiership is at Raeburn Place where Barclay's Wealth Grange await a Carlton side who are also unbeaten.

With Gordon Drummond, Fraser Watts and Preston Mommsen on Scotland duty, Carlton spokesman Steve Gilmour admits the club are taking a "wee bit of a gamble" by promoting left arm spinner Amit Bij from the 3rds. Carlton will give a debut to top-order batsman Jimmy Guest while Nick Hunt returns having dropped out due to the need to include an extra bowler for last weekend's win over Ayr when Scotland captain Gordon Drummond was restricted to batting only. Gilmour said: "Amit played a few games for our top team last season and took 5-26 last weekend (against Musselburgh 2nds). But, along with overseas amateur Jason Trembath, he'll strengthen the spin element to a bowling attack that also has four seamers. It's a wee bit of a gamble but I'm sure he is experienced enough to make the jump."

Key man for Carlton will be Scotland veteran Cedric English, whose knocks of 127 not out, 37 and 33 leave him requiring just three more to become only the third player past the 200 mark for the season.

"There is no question that Cedric remains capable of scoring runs for the Saltires if recalled," insisted Gilmour, who will soon take up an appointment as Head of Cricket at Merchiston Castle School. English turned out this week for a Carlton side who comfortably accounted for Musselburgh in the Murgitroyd Masterton Trophy at Lewisvale but it was Jamie Kerr who headlined with a hard-hitting 70.

While English continues to stack up runs, it is Safyaan Sharif who leads the way with 214 - a fact that has not escaped Watsonian captain Craig Wright as he prepares his side to welcome the youngster's Dunfermline Knights team to Myreside. Wright, who is able to recall Ewan Chalmers for absent fellow Saltire Ryan Flannigan, says: "We had a solid win last weekend against Stirling County and also defeated RH Corstorphine by seven wickets in the Murgitroyd Masterton Trophy this week (with a half century from Flannigan) but we will have to stay focused.

"I've coached Safyaan in the national academy programme. He is a good prospect."

Heriot's batsman Peter Ross added a Murgitroyd Masterton half-century in a win over Holy Cross to a similar league effort in last weekend's win at Clydesdale. So, the ex-Kinross ace will be integral to Heriot's chances against Aberdeenshire when they take their home bow for the season, especially if skipper Steve Knox has to be ruled out.

The former Scotland opener is awaiting results of a scan on a long-time back injury.

In his absence at Clydesdale, Keith Morton opened but the ex-Penicuik youngster is unavailable this week. Returning to his former stamping ground will be fast bowler Chris West.

Knox said: "Chris is so tall contributing to his bowling style being unorthodox and the other threat is Tyler Buchan who already has eight wickets for the league season."

Also in the championship tomorrow Edinburgh Accies with Ryan Williams, Geraint Jones and Harry Paton replacing the unavailable trio of Nick Murden, Niall Sellar and Phil Taylor are at Dumfries while RH Corstorphine await Kelburne.