Scotland one-day against Australia likely to be sell-out

The Scots take on Australia at the Grange on 3 September and Cricket Scotland said yesterday that tickets for the clash are selling fast.

“With less than five weeks to go till the big game, ticket sales have been extremely encouraging, with indications showing that the match will be a sell-out well before match day,” said a Cricket Scotland statement. “We would encourage all spectators to book their tickets early to avoid missing out.”

Meanwhile, Preston Mommsen believes officials should consider sending his action-starved Saltires into the County 2nd XI Championship.

Mommsen’s men went into Sunday’s YB40 clash against Surrey after a three-week break in competitive action.

The captain admitted his men looked rusty as the county made a blistering start en route to a total of 303 and a 100-run win.

The Scots hadn’t been in top flight action since building up momentum with five wins against Kenya at the start of July.

Mommsen said: “It’s a shame that we had a three-week break at the height of the summer.

“The weather was great and it was frustrating not to be playing. It showed in the way we started against Surrey. You can practise as long as you like in the nets but there is no substitute for being in the middle.

“I know there was a Pro Series game organised for last week and it’s unfortunate the weather had turned against us by then and it was rained-off.”

The dearth of action promises to be a bigger problem next year when the Saltires will no longer compete in the YB40.

A European League for elite teams in Scotland, Holland and Ireland is in the pipeline, though not yet confirmed, and Mommsen said: “Maybe we need to be looking at the county second elevens. Playing three-day cricket at that level could be better for the guys than the YB40.”

The Saltires complete their YB40 campaign with a Titwood treble header starting against Durham on Sunday, Hampshire two days later and Lancashire on Thursday 15 August.