Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / SCOTLAND
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Cricket Contents:  Future tour dates | England | International Teams | Counties | Women's cricket | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Test Match Special

19:48 GMT, Thursday, 24 April 2008 20:48 UK

Aussie duo into bat for Saltires

By Mark Woods
BBC Scotland Sport

Ed Cowan is Scotland's new overseas player If it is, truly, the boyhood dream of every Australian cricketer to dish out punishment to English opposition, then there will be no more motivated members of Scotland's summer squad than Pete Steindl and Ed Cowan.

The Saltires open up their Friends Provident Trophy campaign on Sunday, against Lancashire at The Grange.

And Steindl, as coach, and Cowan, the imported batsman, are eager to play central roles, on and off the field, for the rank outsiders in the competition's Northern group.

With Durham, Yorkshire and Derbyshire also battling for just one semi-final berth, there will be little time for acclimatisation for captain Ryan Watson and his side, whose competitive preparations for the domestic campaign have been limited to a four-day Intercontinental Cup encounter with Namibia and a warm-up against an MCC XI at Lord's.

"It's a challenge," admits Steindl, who was elevated into his current position four months ago from his previous role with the national under-age squads.

"The group we're in, every game is going to be a challenge - guaranteed. In terms of Lancashire, it's a quality side.

"There are some big names in there, and a guy like Freddie Flintoff coming into bowl, it's great and it going to provide a good challenge and opportunity for all our players to see where they're at."

Development is a big part of the Queenslander's vision - and with Paul Hoffman and Dougie Brown in semi-retirement, there are opportunities for younger pace bowlers to step in and mark their mark in the coming months.

Gordon Goudie, once a trainee at Middlesex, has been drafted in to face Lancashire while others wait in the wings for a summons.

The principal aim, Steindl states, is to stimulate a genuine competition for places. Will that, however, come at the expense of challenging the counties?

"We're looking at playing our best team on a game-by-game basis," he insists. "We've got a good mix in this particular game between experienced and younger players looking to develop the skills required to play at this level.

"We're just focusing on developing a style of cricket that we're comfortable with, where everyone understands their roles, and also is competitive, not only in the FP Trophy games but also in the one-day internationals that we've got coming up, and also towards the World Cup qualifiers next year."

Former Scotland paceman Paul Hoffman That is where Cowan comes in. A prodigious run-maker for New South Wales, his recruitment as Scotland's overseas signing has a dual purpose.

"He's big on his preparation," Steindl outlines. "He's looking at being a consummate professional. And I'm hoping that's going to rub off on some of the other players in the team.

"Also, I'm hoping he'll also be able to mentor some of the younger players, teach them the ability to develop and build big innings and play smart one day cricket."

The 25-year-old opener, who has averaged almost 33 in first-class cricket, has no problem with that request.

While in Scotland, he will be helping out with the coaching programme at Scottish League side Uddingston, who he is also playing for during his stint.

"I've come here to get new experiences," Cowan says. "But I put pressure on myself to contribute and to do well.

"It's all about how you perform. I'm the kind of person who wants to go out and play good cricket. But this is what I do for a living."

As the only full-time player in Scotland's line-up, his is a lone boast. But with the English lying in wait, shirking a challenge will be prohibited under Aussie rules.


Scotland

Overseas player: Ed Cowan (Australia)

Ins: None

Outs: George Bailey (Australia), Paul Hoffman (RET)



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Pink ball makes debut at Lord's (21 Apr 08 |  Cricket )
Namibian tail stings sorry Scots (06 Apr 08 |  Scotland )
Record figures for Scots cricket (29 Mar 08 |  Cricket )
Steindl happy with Scotland depth (21 Dec 07 |  Scotland )
Steindl takes Scotland coach role (19 Dec 07 |  Scotland )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Cricket Scotland
Friends Provident Trophy
BBC Where I Live - Scotland
Your say on Scottish cricket - 606
The Grange weather
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Cricket Contents:  Future tour dates | England | International Teams | Counties | Women's cricket | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Test Match Special

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©