Nothing minor about Scotland's all for one style

Source: Rampant Lion     Date: June 01, 2003

As the hype surrounding the Saltires continues to build, it's time to start believing we have a chance of promotion.  To think I had been led to believe that cricket was a minority sport in Scotland! If that's true, all I can say is it's a pretty big minority. Since I arrived in Edinburgh on Wednesday morning, the media attention and messages of support from the public have been overwhelming. Perhaps it demonstrates the significant leaps which the Saltires have taken in the National Cricket League that the momentum is definitely building and none of us can wait for today's match against Hampshire.

Naturally, there is pressure on me to perform, but I'm in Scotland to help develop the game as a whole, rather than bother with personal milestones. Don't get me wrong, I will be trying 100% when I walk to the crease, but anybody expecting me to crack 100 in every fixture is deluded, and I'm not going to indulge in wild predictions about how many runs I might score, beyond admitting I have a responsibility to Scotland to repay their investment. In any case, my philosophy has always been that the team come first, and there will be times when I have to score quickly and times when I have to consolidate.

The key lies in being flexible and after meeting the Scotland coach, Tony Judd, I was delighted to find he is willing to experiment and adopt the mentality that you have to be prepared to lose to win. I agree. Granted, the Saltires could crawl to 150 every match and aim for respectability. But what is the benefit of being cautious and unadventurous? I prefer the approach of targeting 240/250 in a 45-over contest because that gives the bowlers something to play with and it draws in the crowds.

I'm convinced that if the Scots keep improving and keep picking up quick singles and hitting bad balls for boundaries, they will get chances to win more games as the season progresses. I don't buy into the idea that the so-called ÒbubbleÓ will burst. How negative is that?

Hampshire, for instance, will not be relishing the prospect of tackling the Saltires today in front of a packed crowd, with Sky TV cameras primed on both sides. But this afternoon's tussle isn't only a team game; there will be individual battles fought out in the middle. I have been working with some Scottish left-arm bowlers to prepare myself for the possibility of playing against Wasim Akram at some stage.

He might be classed as a veteran these days and have announced his retirement from international cricket, but believe me, Wasim is one of the toughest competitors in the business and after the miserable time Pakistan had in the World Cup he will be determined to help the Hawks become a force in the NCL.

How do you define Wasim? More pertinently, where do you begin? I was only starting out in the sport when he helped his country win the 1992 World Cup, by taking three vital wickets and crashing 33 off 19 deliveries to defeat England. The enthusiasm, skill and sheer menace he exhibited has typified his whole career. Even in the twilight of it, Wasim has remained a terrific exponent of reverse swing and is still capable of producing unnerving pace from a relatively short run-up.

I have been fortunate to have found myself surrounded by maestros such as Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly Ð because Pakistan have yet to beat India after four World Cup matches Ð and Sachin was at his best in South Africa in March when he scored 98 from just 75 balls. But even though Wasim was struggling that afternoon, he has never-say-die courage and on his day, he only needs a tiny piece of encouragement to come steaming in full throttle in search of wickets.

Obviously, he will be a threat. The same is true of Alan Mullally, and any county which has batsmen of the calibre of John Crawley and Robin Smith can pose major problems. But one thing I've liked about Scotland's performances in the NCL is that they are not overawed by star names or intimidated by reputations. In that respect, they remind me of the Kenyans in the World Cup, and although it may be premature to start tipping the Saltires for promotion from the Second Division, I don't think it's impossible if they stick to their current gameplan of concentrating on their own strengths and forcing themselves into winning positions.

Of course, it won't always be successful Ð even the Australians lose a one-day match now and again Ð but the trick is to be consistently competitive and to learn how to handle the pressure in tight situations. Last Sunday's victory over Lancashire at Old Trafford shows they are improving dramatically just from playing the counties regularly. In the past, I reckon they might have found 192 difficult to defend. But they knuckled down to the basics, Craig Wright and Majid Haq bowled superbly, and their professional opponents simply wilted. It was testimony to the virtues of positive thinking and having faith, both in yourself and your team-mates.

There's something else I have noticed about Scotland: the popularity of the game within the Asian community and the fact that players like Haq and Moneeb Iqbal have emerged into the Scotland set-up so rapidly. From what I gather, this isn't happening in football or rugby, yet as somebody who believes that cricket should be enjoyed by everybody, male or female, black or white, it's encouraging to discover that the Scots have created a truly multi-racial structure, in both men's and women's cricket.

The proof of how a country works better when all people pull in the same direction came on Friday with the news that Ajay Chopra, a businessman crazy about cricket, has given the SCL £25,000 to become the Saltires' shirt sponsor. With more of that kind of initiative shown by the players today, I have no doubt the Scots can continue to make waves on the road towards the 2007 World Cup. Now, where's my bat...