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 Love: Up to the challenge Scotland trains in warm desert climate ahead of World Cup
Posted: Sunday April 25, 1999 02:41 PM
SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Scotland's national cricket team, preparing for its first World Cup next month in England, trained Sunday in this warm desert emirate, far from the snow-covered pitches back home. Scotland's national cricketers -- mainly part-timers -- are making the most of the facilities at Sharjah Stadium before the World Cup, which begins on May 14. "When we left Scotland on April 16, there was snow on the ground and we could not practice outdoors," said Jim Love, director of coaching. "We did not want to train in England because there, there is no guarantee of playing any cricket due to the weather." "Though it's a bit warm here, it has given us the chance of practicing -- and the players are enjoying it," said Love, a former Yorkshire and England cricketer. It was 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) in Sharjah on Sunday. Graham Dilley, the former English paceman, is training the bowlers. The team has only two professional English county cricketers, Gavin Hamilton, who plays for Yorkshire, and Northamptonshire all-rounder, John Blain. Ex-Pakistani first class player, Asim Butt, is also on the team. The rest of the team, led by George Salmond, includes teachers, a solicitor, a salesman, an electrician, a town planner, a civil engineer, a sports development officer, a groundsman and a real estate agent. For Love and the players, however, the World Cup is serious business, and a chance to show that Scotland, which takes part in England's one-day county competitions, is worthy of being there. "We're looking forward to the challenge," Love said. The World Cup starts May 14 with a match between England and Sri Lanka. Scotland's campaign opens against Australia on May 16; the two are in Group B with West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh.
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