Sandy Strang: Domestic game lifted by live screen test

"It's good that Scotland does have a national cricket cup," reflected the Scottish cricket historian David W Potter some time back. "But it's such a shame that no television channel seems interested in covering at least the final."

Well, David, your pleas could soon be answered. Thanks largely to the ubiquitous Mike Stanger.

On Sunday Mike and his trusty ex-BBC production stalwarts Jack McGill and David Holmes broadcast the first domestic Scottish cricket match to be televised "live" for more than 50 years. Back on 7 May 1955, a celebrated one-off Western Union league encounter between Poloc and West of Scotland was screened from Shawholm.

On Sunday past, commentary on the Clydesdale versus Drumpellier Scottish Cup tie was provided by ex-players Colin Mitchell and Alan Stevenson - "stars in the making", trumpeted Stanger.

"It's all down to the possibilities afforded by live internet videostreaming," he added.

"Along with many others, I'm convinced that this provides us with a cost-effective way forward. Sure, there are some technical glitches still to be circumvented, not least the quality of internet access at a specific venue.

"But, after a first innings interrupted by a sequence of system crashes, we were very happy with our second half coverage.

"Our five-camera coverage also achieved the highly encouraging figure of over 25,000 viewer minutes of audience patronage.

"With the invaluable aid of some Media Studies students from the University of the West of Scotland - including, incidentally, one current player, Stirling County seamer Seth Edwards - our immediate aim is to be up and running to livestream all three matches in the triangular ODI tournament between Scotland, Ireland and Sri Lanka next month at the Citylets Grange.

"Sunday's exercise was an excellent testbed to develop our ideas and equipment and we're edging ever closer to a fully-polished professional delivery," added Stanger.

The future's bright. The future's Stanger TV.