Saltire Parker eyes move to Grace Road

If persistence pays off, Leicestershire may reap a handsome dividend should they complete their pursuit of Matty Parker. The young Scotland bowler was first picked up on the Grace Road radar last summer but interest was suspended following surgery to clean up a cartilage problem.

Kicking his heels temporarily, Parker, 22, had no fears that he would return, fitter and stronger. “It seems to have worked so far so hopefully the hip will co-operate,” he says. Now, Leicestershire have revived their courtship with an agreement provisionally in place to take him on loan following next month’s one-day internationals against Canada.

“Sooner rather than later I’d like to get down there,” admits Parker, who must keep his immediate focus on the Saltires trip to Hampshire tomorrow in the Clydesdale Bank Pro 40, followed by Tuesday’s visit to Surrey.

The Arbroath native has long been singled out as one to watch. There are few with such pace and accuracy at such a young age. The basics were drilled into Parker at Forfarshire where his grandfather was a coach.

After going under the knife, he underwent mechanical evaluations and tweaks have been made. “I’ve remodelled my action, shortened my run-up, and tried to work on my landing,” he says. It has not been an entirely seamless process. “But, hopefully, that works out for the best..”

There were plenty of harsh lessons amid the Scots atrocity last Sunday at Durham. South African import Jean Symes’ first century set his side on a path to a seemingly insurmountable tally of 258. So reliable in previous weeks, the Saltires’ bowling unit slumped into bad habits, their strategy to negate field restrictions and batting powerplays apparently invisible.

Scotland cannot afford lapses if they are to beat the odds.