SCOTLAND'S cricketers head to Namibia to embark on a new season today but their hopes of getting some warm-weather training under their belts could be thwarted by a familiar foe.
Tens of thousands of people in the north of the southern African country have been displaced by floods, and the forecast for the capital Windhoek, where the Scots will spend almost a fortnight, is for intermittent rain on a daily basis.
With new h
ead coach Pete Steindl in charge on tour for the first time, the Scots face a week of outdoor training at the Wanderers ground and a one-day match against an invitational XI before the Intercontinental Cup tie with Namibia from 4-7 April.
"The weather hasn't been great and it might affect our schedule but (fast bowler] Sean Weeraratna has been taking a lot of wickets at a good level in Australia, and if there is a bit of rain, it might open the door for him," said captain Ryan Watson.
With Paul Hoffmann retired and Dougie Brown on the verge of bowing out as he struggles to recover from injury, 22-year-old Weeraratna could be poised to join John Blain, Dewald Nel and Craig Wright in the Scots' seam attack if he can prove he has put erratic performances of the past behind him.
Another man likely to feature in the attack, Majid Haq, has been asked to report back in May for a second trial with Warwickshire after spending four days with the county last week.
The off-spinner/batsman was given a stern physical assessment by Edgbaston director of cricket Ashley Giles, including a run of 36 70-metre sprints.
"Ashley Giles said he couldn't make a decision on indoor training so they are going to have another look at me in May, probably in some Second XI games," said the Paisley student, 25.
The full article contains 322 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
