Sandy Strang: MacLeod mines new seam to cast off 'chucker' tag

A mere 11 months have elapsed since Scottish cricket was rocked by the news that the young ex-Drumpellier and Uddingston paceman, newly signed up for Warwickshire, had hit the buffers. In the Intercontinental Cup clash against Canada at Mannofield, MacLeod had been called for throwing by on-field umpires Brian Jerling and Enamul Hoque-Moni and third ump Sandy Scotland. Ironically, MacLeod was in the process of returning his best-ever international match figures of 6 for 102. His burgeoning 14-cap career had suddenly slammed to a halt.

In days gone by that might have summarily signalled the exit door. Geoff Griffen took a hat-trick for South Africa at Lord's in 1960. It was his second – and last – Test. He was no-balled for throwing. Neither an accident suffered at school – which meant he couldn't straighten his arm – nor some primitive remedial work at Alf Gover's renowned indoor cricket school could save him. Three years later, Aussie left-arm quickie Ian Meckiff was called in the famous tied Test against the West Indies at Brisbane and banned for ever.

These, though, are more enlightened and technically helpful times, and since that fateful day young MacLeod has been working hard at re-shaping his tainted action.

Fortunately, he couldn't be in more sympathetic and useful hands than those of Warwickshire coach and ex-South African fast bowling legend Allan Donald. "Until 2009 there was no problem at all," states Donald, "but during the World Twenty/20, from a certain camera angle, it became obvious to myself, Dougie Brown, and head coach Ashley Giles that there might be a problem. We talked to (Calum] and he has responded well. It will take a while to sort because we have to modify a few things in his action." Gratifyingly some progress has already been made. Also encouragingly, recent history points to a number of positive remodellings and rehabilitations. Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, whose quicker 'doosra' was causing havoc to batsmen and umpires alike, was cleared after it was deemed that the amount of elbow extension was now within the permitted 15-degree level of tolerance. South African Johan Botha, called in his first Test, has recently made it back too. As has Shoaib Malik, albeit after shoulder surgery to clear a 'kink' in his action.

MacLeod, incidentally, is not the only recent Saltires player whose action has been called into question, especially in the delivery of a quicker ball, as was once the case with Windies legend Charlie Griffith, and closer to home, Shahid Aslam, once of Heriot's.

Another plus for Macleod has been his improved batting, which could point another route forward, just as Saltires skipper Gavin Hamilton focussed solely on his batting after the dreaded 'yips' afflicted his seamers. MacLeod's mentor at Warwickshire, Dougie Brown, himself travelled south as an opening bowler who batted in Clackmannanshire's lower order, only later to graduate to bat as high as number four for England in some of his 25 ODIs. MacLeod has just pertinently posted an unbeaten 103 batting against Leicestershire seconds.

It's a long, lonely road back for a cited "chucker". It's to be fervently hoped that somehow Calum MacLeod can make that supremely testing journey.

Scots' debt to Maj winner

COMETH the hour, cometh the Maj! They once doubted his fitness. They even questioned his commitment. But once again Majid Haq answered them all where it matters most – on the field.

The 27-year old Saltires all-rounder, whose coveted 100th cap landmark recently passed without much fanfare, is the man Scotland have to thank most for avoiding morale-crushing defeat in Holland.

Chasing just 77 for I-Cup table-topping victory against Holland the Scots had collapsed to a desperate nerve-shredding 18 for 6 when the burly Maj strode to the Deventer crease to join that other stalwart Neil McCallum. Cue the Haq attack. 31 balls, 34 runs and seven fours later – crisis averted. His 100th cap presentation, his finest hour. Magical Maj indeed!

Uddingston hit heights

WHAT a weekend for highs and lows.

Pride of place among the highs goes to Uddingston, whose staunchest supporters must have feared the worst as they trooped into the Portgower Place pavilion at the interval having conceded a gargantuan 340 for 5 to league-leaders Grange. But the Bothwell Castle batsmen, propelled by pinch-hitting Paul Hoffman whose quick-fire 88 set the defiant tone from the off, set about knocking the runs off and an improbably famous victory was sealed appropriately by home-bred David Bill's last-ball strike. It was the highest-ever SNCL run chase, superseding Freuchie's eclipse of Falkland's 325 in 2006.

Meanwhile, New Williamfield was witnessing another batting record as Falkland openers Graeme Watson and Michael Cachia smacked a 150 opening stand against Stirling, which sent scorer and cricket historian David Potter scurrying to the club record books to find if it had been bettered. Nothing found so far. Another nice notch in the Falkland 150th anniversary celebrations.

Records also tumbled in the Western Union Division 1 as 544 runs were amassed at Meikleriggs, 439 of them for Irvine in the ritual slaughter of a hapless Ferguslie second string who lost by 334 runs! When did a Scottish team last score in excess of 400?

Conversely, while 681 runs were being hammered out at Grange, lowly Greenock and Penicuikwere managing to score just 74 between them. The Glenpark men recorded five ducks in their lowest-ever SNCL score, succumbing to just 47 all out at home to Falkland. This nadir was surpassed by feckless Penicuik whose paltry 27 superseded the previous all-time SNCL low of 28.

Sunday also saw Clydesdale opener Greig Williamson smash Carlton for 50 in 18 balls in the Scottish Cup. He was out in the fifth over. Can anyone recall a faster opening 50?