Saltires go in at the deep end next season

THE Saltires have been handed an exciting opening to their 2012 CB40 campaign against champions Surrey.

Pete Steindl’s men will entertain the Oval county on Sunday 6 May at a venue still to be announced, before lining up against Notts 24 hours later. The Bank Holiday double-header is the first of four straight home fixtures at the start of next year’s campaign, with Glamorgan and Hampshire also heading north in May.

The Scots then face all six away fixtures in a row, including the return meeting with Surrey at the Oval on 5 June and a first competitive trip to Cardiff’s Swalec Stadium to face Glamorgan.

They conclude their 12-game county season at home to Durham and Somerset in August.

Cricket Scotland operations director Euan McIntyre declared: “It will be a great challenge to play the champions first up and hopefully we’ll get good crowds on the Bank Holiday.”

However, the Saltires have been handed just one double header away from home, meaning they face four expensive single trips for one-off games including the long hauls to Taunton and Cardiff. McIntyre added: “The ECB have been able to help us in previous years with more double dates but it just wasn’t possible this time.”

Venues for all Saltires’ home fixtures will be announced later.