Last Thursday at the Grange for the visit of Australia, it rained on Scotland’s parade. Dewald Nel wants to make sure nothing else does. In the partial shelter from the elements in the area behind the sightscreen and beneath the television gantry after the abandoned international friendly, he explained why Scotland’s cricketers should remain under the same umbrella before the World Cup in 2007. The English counties, having finally located Scotland’s hidden sport, are showing growing interest in unearthing its crop of talent. Nel feels the players in demand should dig in and stick to their roots.
At 25, Nel, a medium-paced bowler, is one of the few Saltires players who can reasonably claim that the West Indies tournament will represent their peak. Aside from Fraser Watts and Gregor Maiden, the remaining Scotland players are in their 30s or teens. It is the latter age group that will be most in demand. Kyle Coetzer, part of the ICC Trophy-winning squad, is already at Durham, Gordon Goudie signed for Middlesex during this season from the MCC groundstaff with Surrey also interested , and now the likes of Sean Weeraratna and Qasim Sheikh are being predicted to join them as county professionals. Nel’s advice to them, which conflicts with the opinion of Andy Moles, the Saltires coach, is to commit to Scotland instead.
South African-born Nel (he moved to Scotland at 17 when his father relocated here on business), has pledged there will be no further relocation to a county. It could be argued, of course, that he has never had such a decision to make, but Nel’s sentiments are genuine nonetheless: if Scotland are to succeed in 2007, the players have to put their country first. Dougie Brown of Warwickshire, John Blain of Yorkshire and Gavin Hamilton at Durham are likely to be there in the Caribbean, likewise Goudie and Coetzer but, in Nel’s view, if that tally of county players were to increase, the Scotland squad could find its number up, too.
“I’ve had a chat to Fraser Watts and a couple of the younger guys about it and we’ve said that if everyone is going to up and leave for county cricket then Scottish cricket isn’t really going to go anywhere,” said Nel. “We’re quite adamant that we’re going to stay here and make Scottish cricket work. The only way we can make it better is if the good players stay home. So, as a stance, I’m personally not looking at options outside of Scotland. I’m very happy to commit to here at the moment because of what’s ahead of us.
“It’s a difficult balancing act when guys are ambitious, but the only we can make it work as a developing unit is if everyone is in it together. Personal achievements and wages will be there on offer in England and I realise that players will be ambitious for themselves, but they should be ambitious for Scotland. It can’t just be a handful of players who stay behind, everyone has to in the short-term. If, say, Sean goes to county cricket then another one is lost and that will affect the plans negatively because you want a blend of established players as well as up and coming ones playing as much cricket together as possible in the lead-up to the 2007 World Cup.”
There is a logic to Nel’s argument, but, debatably, his own season disproves it. While still a bowler of some promise, there has been an inconsistency to his form. That is a wrong that regular county cricket would put right. His figures this season include a three for 39 against Leicestershire, but, sadly, it is easier to recall the more damning statistics, an economy rate of 5.82, and bowling average of 32.62, that don’t give a lie to how lacking in magic some of his spells have been.
“I didn’t cope very well at the beginning, but I’ve spent a lot of time talking about this to the Scotland coaches,” says Nel. “I am learning and it doesn’t happen overnight. Every cricketer has a bad run of form or even a bad season and this possibly could be mine at the moment. I can only bounce back stronger. My confidence hasn’t dropped too much. I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t do the job and I know I can do the job. It hasn’t been happening so I’ll just have to practice even harder. If the selectors didn’t think I could do it for Scotland they wouldn’t pick me, the fact that they are still choosing me shows that they believe I can be a good player for them and that’s a massive confidence booster.”
Since their World Cup qualification, Scotland have lacked the same intensity, not just in the totesport League, of which the latest fixture is at home to Derbyshire this Friday in Edinburgh, but also in the defeat against Ireland in the ICC Intercontinental Cup despite a modest final day target.
“Derbyshire are a team we can beat next Friday. They’re struggling themselves in county cricket and I think if we want to make another statement possibly this fixture is the time to do it again. We want to end the season with another run of form. It was really intense for two weeks in Ireland. We were all together every day for two weeks, then when we got back to Edinburgh airport we all went our own separate ways and coming back it was a bit bizarre playing totesport again. I think a lot of us have lost belief in our own ability but we can still do it in the National League. Everyone has seen glimpses of it, but it’s doing it on a more regular basis.”
Thursday’s rain damage to the finances, estimated at around £90,000 of lost projected profit, will need to be soaked up somehow and makes it even less likely that there will be enough money for Weeraratna and the like to stay for. Scotland’s full one-day international status from next January means they can demand the release of county players regardless. Next season’s only county opposition for the Scots will come in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy, the National League’s three-year trial at an end, and for a developing player that may not be enough. Nel, Watts and company are to be admired for their loyalty, but until it can be properly rewarded, it is themselves rather than Scottish cricket they should do a favour.
