Expanded new series could help Scots to Test status

Former Saltires skipper Gordon Drummond believes an expanded Regional Series can help Scotland take another step towards Test status.

The national side faces another sparse programme of summer fixtures but bosses are trying to plug the gap by giving its elite players beefed-up T20 Blitz and Pro50 competitions.

Caley Highlanders, Eastern Knights and Western Warriors will contest a nine-match programme in the shorter format and six in the 50over competition – thanks to sponsorship from investment specialists Tilney Group.

The competitions will carry the name of Tilney, who will also back Cricket Scotland’s Pathway Programme.

Drummond, the pathway programme manager, said: “Expanding our regional series is a massive step towards our goal of ICC Full Membership and Tilney’s sponsorship of the whole programme will enable us to better promote the different tournaments and invest in coaching structures for the future.”

The Warriors, boosted by the return of Scotland batsman Calum MacLeod from the Knights, will launch the defence of their T20 Blitz title with a home double header against their two rivals at Titwood on May 20.

Pro50 champions the Knights, meanwhile, open up against Caley Highlanders at Forthill on May 6.

Scotland have set their sights on achieving Test status after their closest associate rivals Afghanistan and Ireland were promoted to the elite ranks last year.

A 100-balls-a-side format has been proposed for the new domestic competition, which launches in 2020.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced the plan for the men’s and women’s tournaments, each featuring eight teams, due to start in two years’ time.

Under the proposal, each team will face 15 traditional sixball overs with an additional 10-ball over at the end of the innings.

Gordon Drummond has hailed Regional Series expansion.