Farrell focused on Goldenacre and not what's going on at Lord's

WITH Chris Martin starting the Lord's Test for New Zealand, Cameron Farrell need only switch on television for evidence of how a stint as professional at Heriot's can be the springboard to cricketing glory.

But, for the moment, 20-year-old Aussie Farrell dismisses talk of following in the footsteps of his illustrious predecessor and is focusing on a Goldenacre clash tomorrow with champions Greenock.

But the build-up started over the winter some 12,000 miles away.

Explains Farrell: "The reason I am at Heriot's is because of Sean Weeraratna coming out to my club, Valleys, to experience Australian conditions.

"Sean planted some seeds in my mind about a first overseas trip to Scotland and, having originally been set to sign for a club in Taunton, Somerset, his dad got in touch to pave the way for me switching to Heriot's instead.

"As soon as I realised I was liable to be playing against Sean's Greenock team, the banter started between him and I."

What's clear is that, so far, the trip has brought mutual benefits for player and club alike.

While Farrell appreciates he will be all the better for playing on slower wickets where patience is required, Heriot's were treated to a quality showing by their new all-rounder in the only match they have completed so far.

With the opening trip westto Clydesdale rained off and a visit to Carlton last week decided on the Duckworth/Lewis method applying to weather interrupted matches, that was a home derby with Watsonians.

And how appetites must have been whetted after the man who arrived in Brisbane on a cricket scholarship from Townsville hit 53 out of an opening partnership of 84 with Steve Knox then returned bowling figures of 1-11 off ten overs – no fewer than six of them maidens.

"I just kept moving the ball away from batsmen who never really got close to making contact," says Farrell, modestly giving the impression it was 'just one of those days'.

He adds: "I probably regard myself as a bowler who is keen to develop more batting skill but whatever I do better at in a game I usually say is my speciality!"

Certainly, economy was harder to come by last week when his ten overs cost 48 runs at Carlton though Farrell, who had former Saltire Cedric English caught behind off a top edge, found the occasion had its rewards.

"It was especially interesting to see fellow Australian Peter Wooden scoring an unbeaten 130 in the sense that he is that bit more experienced than me yet came over to Scotland a few years earlier and has made himself into a very good cricketer.

"I don't feel under any pressure to follow in anybody's footsteps and really this is all about grabbing every cricket opportunity before returning to my university studies in Town Planning and see where that takes me."

So far that has meant outings for Queensland under-17s albeit in very different conditions from those currently being experienced. "Everywhere you go in Australia the wickets are hard. So far here I've seen rain, bad light, thunder and good conditions. People usually play better in conditions they are accustomed to. I'm getting a taste of everything and enjoying myself tremendously in Edinburgh, which can only help my cricket."

Meanwhile, Heriot's will be braced for a backlash from a Greenock side whose website sums up back-to-back losses against Grange and Scotland under-19s as a "weekend to forget".

With pro Wooden looking to build on his first century for the club, Lloyds TSB Premiership leaders Carlton face a busy weekend at NVT Poloc tomorrow, followed by a visit from Scotland under-19s on Sunday.

For Poloc there is one change to the side beaten by Ferguslie with skipper Gavin Ewing replacing Madushan Jayaratne and they will be particularly keen to see off Wooden. In three matches so far the opposition pros have plundered 323 runs at their expense.

Fresh from their morale-boosting win at Greenock, a trip to Greaves Clydesdale awaits Grange, while Watsonians head for Tunnock Uddingston hoping to carry on where they left off last week having stood at 126-1 when rain intervened against Clydesdale.

On this occasion 'Sonians will be without promising young batsman, Euan Chalmers, while internationalist Gordon Drummond is also missing recovering from a hamstring strain.