Talented Sharif could be the key that unlocks troublesome Ireland

IN TURN, Craig Wright's three successors as Scotland captain have tried and failed to answer the Irish question. Seven consecutive limited-overs meetings have now gone the way of the World Cup trailblazers as the Scots have searched for ways to retrieve control of the seesaw.

Could Safyaan Sharif be the secret weapon that finally cracks the green nut? It would be dangerous to expect too much of a 20-year-old pace bowler but he was persuasively impressive on his debut, taking four for 27 in last week's second win over the Netherlands in Aberdeen.

Today the Huddersfield-born Dunfermline speedster will be unleashed on an Irish side looking to take out the frustration of yesterday's tri-series opener against Sri Lanka being called off after a weekend of rain.

"He's just played the one ODI for us and did very well, he took four wickets, enjoyed himself and played with good energy which was good," said Scotland coach Pete Steindl yesterday.

"He's played another game for us, for a Scotland XI against Worcester, where he struggled a little bit. He's raw. He's not the finished product and we're looking for him to develop over the next 12 to 18 months. He's been on the radar, for a while now, we were watching him last year and he has progressed nicely. He's physically stronger this year, he's grown up a bit and he's been doing well in club cricket so he deserved a crack.

"It's good to have another guy because our pace-bowling resources have taken a hit with Dewald Nel out long term and Mattie Parker having his operation last week and facing at least three months out.

"Saffy is a quiet lad, very down to earth, and he just wants to do well." Another member of this evolving Scotland side the Irish haven't seen is Calum MacLeod, at least not in the guise in which he currently operates. Once cast, like Sharif may come to be, as the saviour of Scottish fast bowling, MacLeod has reformed himself as a top-order batsman who has been given his head at No?3 in recent games.

The 22-year-old Glaswegian is still bowling and with an ICC licence to do so after having his unlawful action remodelled, but such dramatic remedial work takes years to complete and he has honed his batting and fielding this summer after losing his professional deal with Warwickshire.

Kyle Coetzer or Josh Davey may be chosen at first-drop ahead of him today, but Steindl confirmed that MacLeod would be given a prolonged shot to prove he can add quick runs to the most productive Scottish batting order we have seen since 2007.

"He's scoring runs in regional cricket, he's scoring runs in club cricket and we know we've got to be a little bit patient. He has brought a lot of energy and he's an outstanding fielder, and he hits a clean ball," said Steindl."He's working hard with his bowling at the moment, he is clear to bowl, but the situation with the games hasn't really allowed it to date.

"For me he's got another 12-month process; he knows that and he is working hard. But I believe that he can bat anywhere in the top six and there will be times in various games when he will flit in between those. Once he can compete out there in the middle with his bowling again, he's going to provide a complete package for us. We look forward to that."