East Premier cricket: Spink back to bolster Arbroath

The former professional footballer hasn’t figured for the Lichties for the best part of a decade, having spent time at Carlton  before moving to Australia.

But, having watched Spink in a midweek training session, club president Geoff Fisher has no doubt he can make a big impression. Fisher said: “Darren was always renowned as a fantastic fielder and from what I saw in the nets, he has not lost any of his speed and skill.

“It is great to see him back on home territory and I am sure his presence will have a positive  effect on the rest of the team.”

Arbroath, desperate to haul themselves clear of the Eastern Premiership basement, are further boosted by the return of all-rounder and vice-captain Calvin Burnett.

Fisher echoed the sentiments of skipper Fraser Burnett that the club’s plight was not helped when Calvin was called up by Scotland for two weekend away games – only to be left out of the starting line-up.

The president said: “The situation was an absolute farce. The upshot is that he hasn’t bowled a ball in anger for three weeks.”

Heriot’s and Watsonians embark on a crucial weekend, locking horns today in what could turn out to be a title decider, before squaring up in a Scottish Cup semi-final tomorrow.

Sonians triumphed earlier in the season by the narrowest possible margin – one run. But they will be without coach Craig Wright and Paddy Sadler, who are in Australia on Under-19 World Cup duties.

To counter that, experienced duo Craig Mackellar and Ali  Farooq are missing for Heriot’s, along with another national age-group ace, Peter Ross.

The Grange v Aberdeenshire tussle has been switched to Fettes College because Grange’s Raeburn Place is still under repair in the wake of the July floods.

Carlton were one of the victims of Stoneywood-Dyce during the Aberdonians’ surprise run of success early in the campaign, and the fact that it happened at Grange Loan made it all the more of an upset.

A repeat is unlikely this weekend, with Carlton likely to rediscover their edge and earn revenge at People’s Park.