Steindl urges Saltires to focus on performance

SALTIRES coach Pete Steindl has told his players to concentrate on their performances rather than victories. The Scottish side have the chance to notch their first win of a new Yorkshire Bank 40 campaign when they entertain Essex at The Citylets Grange tomorrow.

It follows an encouraging display when a youthful line-up gave holders Hampshire a run for their money last Sunday.

The youngsters will get another chance to make their mark against a powerful Essex team and Steindl said: “We haven’t played Essex for a while but I know they are a quality side.

“Like all the counties they have players who can turn matches but I want the guys to concentrate on their own game.

“We have to be fully focused on our own performance and on executing our plans. If we do that victories will come our way.”

Essex have already shown how wide open the group is by losing heavily to Hampshire and then beating Durham, and Steindl added: “We are also capable of winning performances and if we are in contention going into the last over we’ll give ourselves a chance which hopefully we can convert.”

Fit-again Dewald Nel is in line to make his first Saltires appearance for two years in place of the injured Gordon Goudie while Arbroath pace bowler Calvin Burnett will again take the new ball after impressing last week.

This is the first meeting of the sides since an Essex team featuring the former England captain Nasser Hussain won by 45 runs in 2004.

Current England captain Alastair Cook will not be in the visiting team tomorrow due to international commitments while Ravi Bopara is on England Lions duty.

The Saltires have yet to beat the Chelmsford outfit in six attempts.