Wednesday 11 March 2009

As Scotland’s national cricket team prepares to fly to South Africa for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign, Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland and Sports Minister Shona Robison were on hand to provide added support by announcing £415,320 of sportscotland investment into the sport in Scotland.

Joining national team players Gordon Goudie and Dewald Nel outside the Scottish Parliament this morning, Louise Martin announced the funding: "This is such an exciting time for cricket in Scotland. Our national team is embarking on its bid to qualify for the 2011 World Cup, Cricket Scotland has recently been recognised for its outstanding development work and the number of young players is on the rise.

"I am delighted that our continued investment will support Cricket Scotland in delivering their innovative programmes to develop the sport and encourage a whole new generation of players to take up cricket.

"I would also like to wish the Scottish team the very best of luck in South Africa and hope that the support provided by the Scottish Institute of Sport has assisted in their preparations."

Scotland’s new Sports Minister Shona Robison MSP added her support: "It’s great that the work that Cricket Scotland has been doing to engage with young people and encourage more community involvement in the game has been recognised.

"This funding will help build on these achievements and provide coaching costs and development to ensure our cricketers are the best they can be. I have every confidence that our national team will continue to be a credit to the country as they bat for Scotland in South Africa."

The funding announced today is part of an integrated investment package in the sport which includes support services from the Scottish Institute of Sport, the high-performance arm of sportscotland. The national team now benefit from the individually tailored support provided by the Institute, ensuring that they are well prepared for their World Cup qualifying campaign. In 2005 the Scots topped their qualifying group, winning all seven matches and securing their place in the 2007 World Cup competition; a feat that the Scots are determined to replicate.

The sportscotland investment is also designed to support Cricket Scotland’s drive to nurture the next generation of cricketing talent. Cricket Scotland recently scooped the International Cricket Council (Europe) award for best overall cricket development programme, recognising their efforts to grow the game among children and at community level. In 2008, 18,000 children were introduced to the sport by primary school teachers, an increase of 10% on the 2007 figures. To capitalise on the increasing junior numbers, five regional academies are now up and running, providing a crucial link in the player pathway, from school participation to club level and beyond.

Welcoming the investment, Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Cricket Scotland said: "The investment from sportscotland is crucial in our work to grow participation throughout Scotland and to improve the performances of our national male and female cricketers. This winter, the support of the Scottish Institute of Sport, has been invaluable in preparing the Scottish Saltires for the forthcoming world cup qualifiers in South Africa. There is no doubt the expertise that this has brought to our physical preparations will be a major benefit in the heat and altitude of South Africa.

Scotland play Ireland in their first qualifying match on 1 April.