NEW Scotland cricket internationalist Stuart Chalmers will continue to venture into unknown territory this weekend when, fresh from helping achieve a One Day International victory over Canada, he returns to the Grange side who visit Heriot's.
Despite never having previously played at Goldenacre, Chalmers will learn there is much to live up to with Grange seeking a fourth straight league victory there.
He says: "This will be another new experience for me but, from what I hear, there hav
e been plenty of runs scored at Goldenacre this season and, hopefully, there are a few left for me."
This week's two Inter- Continental Cup clashes at Mananofield in Aberdeen saw Chalmers take his first international wicket in the initial Saltires defeat, which was quickly avenged 24 hours later.
And it gave the 26-year-old groundsman special pleasure that he was at the other end when Grange clubmate Neil McCallum hit the winning runs.
Chalmers said: "It was good that Grange players added the finishing touches and I've enjoyed my time at the club since joining this season.
"Previously I started out by following my dad, Jim, to the Hawick and Wilton club before moving to Penicuik, where I had five great years learning from former Scotland cap Willie Morton.
"When it came to acquiring Premiership Division One experience Grange is where I opted to go and, between opportunities with Grange, the Scotland winter training squad and the Scottish Lions I felt I was ready when my chance came – if a bit nervous."
Hopefully, too, Chalmers has overcome an injury blight which threatened to mar his season. He added: "I was facing Watsonians in a Masterton Trophy tie earlier this season when I pulled a hip flexor muscle, which meant three weeks out.
"Even in the win over Canada after I'd bowled my first four overs for 15 runs I had to pull out of the attack due to a split finger.
"Fortunately the damage is healing and I look forward to helping Grange bounce back from a defeat by Uddingston which has dropped us down to third place."
In fact, only once has the league been won with more than the three defeats Grange have already
suffered and that was when the Raeburn Place men captured the crown last season.
"But, clearly, there is no margin for error as the competition enters its second half."
For Heriot's a fourth-successive league win will have to be achieved without Ali Farooq, a five-wicket hero last weekend. He is unavailable due to business commitments. However, the league's top stumper, Gavin McIntyre, is back both tomorrow and for Sunday's Scottish Cup trip to Aberdeenshire where Jed Case will replace Andre van Niekerk (unavailable).
Also in the Capital Watsonians entertain Clydesdale and reward George Cairns for a 2nd XI century against Boroughmuir last week with a call up. He replaces the injured Dwayne Batchelor.
Returning after hamstring damage is James Easton, while Ewan Chalmers is back from earning his Scotland spurs against Canada in Aberdeen.
For Carlton a trip to Ayr should see Ally Evans in club ranks for the first time since his own Scotland debut this week but skipper Cedric English is out injured while big-hitting Rob Thornton, who smashed two sixes last week, is unavailable.
Assuming the captaincy both tomorrow and for Sunday's home clash with Arbroath in the Scottish Cup is Jamie Kerr, who says: "It's been a great week for Ally both in terms of his debut and his first wicket in national colours and thoroughly well deserved.
"Hopefully, he can help us offset the absence of Cedric who is taking a week's off because of hand and hamstring knocks which just need a bit of time to repair"
The Division One card sees Penicuik visit Drumpellier while at the top of Division Two RH Corstorphine will hope to keep the pressure on leaders Falkland by winning at West Lothian.
A visit to Falkland is the daunting challenge ahead of Edinburgh CC while SMRH are at Dumfries.
