Cricket: Top players gear up for Pro Series

The Pro Series is an initiative which will see the Reivers and Highlanders clash in three formats of the game including – for the first time – multi-day cricket and which is the precursor of a new European League to be launched next summer in which the two Scottish sides will compete with teams from Ireland and the Netherlands.

Andy Tennant, Cricket Scotland’s performance director, believes the new tournament will provide the highest level of competition witnessed in the domestic game, providing a  necessary stepping stone for aspiring Saltires players.

Three sides, who previously competed in a Tri Series, have been whittled down to two and Tennant said: “The new Pro  Series will see the cream of Scottish-based players in action in all formats of the game. Tennant said: “It is an exciting initiative which provides the perfect opportunity for our best home-based guys to compete for places in the national team.”

Ironically, neither side is at full strength for today’s 50-over-a-side opener at Titwood, Glasgow, and it is the Reivers who have been hardest hit.

They are without talented youngsters Andrew Umeed, Alex Baum and Nick Farrar, who have exams, while Gavin Main and Safyaan Sharif are injured.

Craig Wallace, Ryan Flannigan and Dewald Nel are unavailable for the Highlanders.