Cricket: Shadow put on Papps as spotlight hits Durrani

HERIOT'S captain Steve Knox has warned his side not to focus exclusively on visiting pro Michael Papps when Ayr are encountered at Goldenacre in tomorrow's only Scottish cricket premiership match scheduled for the Capital (noon).

New Zealand Test star Papps is leading the Premiership run charts with 547 at an average of 136.75 but, according to Knox, it would be folly for a side giving a league debut to former Boroughmuir left-arm seam bowler Hussan Durrani, to neglect the threat posed by others.

"Papps has an exceptional record and we need to get him out early as we have managed to do a couple of times in the past.

"But there are other quality performers such as Dougie Johnstone, Andy McElnea and Mark Renny making Ayr anything but a one-man outfit even allowing for the fact that Papps, whom I know from playing against him in Christchurch over previous winters, probably should have had more international recognition."

Heriot's currently lie fourth in the race to be among the quartet of clubs entering the play-offs to determine the title and they are particularly keen to get points in the bag before Chris Kent and Peter Ross head off to represent Papua New Guinea and Scotland respectively at the end of this month in the World Under-19 Cup qualifying tournament.

Knox added: "In addition to losing Chris and Peter we'll be without Simon Smith who is travelling with the Under-19s as strength and conditioning coach.

"It helps, therefore, that Hussan Durrani, who replaces the unavailable Craig McKellar, has stepped up on the back of some useful performances for the Seconds and a club debut in a Scottish Cup tie at Arbroath."

It's Grange's turn to head for Arbroath tomorrow when skipper Sanjay Patel is expecting fireworks from deposed Scotland batsman, Neil McCallum.

Patel observed: "It must have come as a shock to a lot of people when Neil was omitted from the Saltires team which played Ireland and Sri Lanka this week.

"I won't be alone in rating him the best Scottish batsman of the past few years.

"Being the sort of determined man he is, I'm sure he'll want to respond in the best possible way by proving a point with runs on the board."

With only Andrew Brock unavailable there is real depth in the Grange line-up as they hope to begin a push into the top four.

For their Greenock trip, Watsonians receive a major boost with the inclusion of pace bowler Paddy Sadler.

President Ross Brooks said: "Paddy returns following helping Cambridge University to a historic treble of Varsity wins over their rivals Oxford in addition to their win over Surrey this season."

Alas, though, it is a case of catch-him-while-you-can as Sadler is leading Scotland Under-19s at the World Cup qualifiers when all-rounder Peter Legget also takes part with club captain Craig Wright involved in coaching duties.

Leaders Carlton head for Aberdeenshire without Gordon Drummond but with Cedric English returning while in the Championship, Edinburgh Accies, at home to Kelburne, give a debut to Sammy Abdullah. Match of the day could be RH Corstorphine at home to SMRH.

"There are other quality performers .?.?. making Ayr anything but a one-man outfit"

STEVE KNOX