Saltires should start winning if positive signs can be built on

The ability to build and pace an innings, or bowl consistently to your field against top-quality batsman whilst challenging to get them out takes time. The only place you can learn to do this is on the field of play. Scotland should have beaten Warwickshire but fell short when chasing for three reasons. Firstly their start was too slow with Ryan Flannigan especially not scoring quickly enough. Secondly, after a great partnership by Josh Davey and Preston Mommsen set up the winning position, the Satires contrived to panic when needing 11 off eight. Finally, there was some outstanding fielding under pressure by Warwickshire, especially Keith Barker's catch to dismiss Gordon Goudie. On these small factors games at this level are won and lost.

How do these players get experience? The simple answer is they must play more regularly and be tested against quality cricketers and playing in the SNCL week in, week out does not, in any way, prepare cricketers to play for Scotland. In the last two weeks the Saltires have played on three Test grounds and one game in front of live television cameras, and competed against cricketers in England squads and from other international teams. Results, always ultimately vital in sport, have to be tempered with realism and pragmatism.

Cricket has moved on considerably in the last few years and the advent of T20 has pushed the game to new levels. Around the cricketing world scores are increasing, new shots are being developed and bowlers have to be inventive to curb opposition scoring. The differential between the amateur and professional games is widening year on year. In four games Scotland averaged over 200 scoring at above five runs an over, a feat very rarely achieved in over 30 years of playing against county opposition. Batsmen aged 20, 21 and 23 scored their first 50s at this level and two opening bowlers aged 22 and 23 took nine wickets between them in one match against the reigning champions. At times the fielding was magnificent with Richie Berrington, Goudie and Mommsen outstanding, at times it fell way below expectations. The bowling, Majid Haq apart, was often erratic and unable to build any pressure on the batsmen and wickets bar the Warwickshire collapse were hard to gain. On the quality of pitches the games were played on, there is little or no margin for error and players of the quality of England prospect James Taylor and England international Steven Davies will take advantage.

In the last game against Warwickshire Scotland players had played 325 List A games between them compared to the opposition's 1,305. Six Warwickshire players had over 100 appearances with only Haq over 50 for Scotland. Progress will take time and experience has to be gained on the field. However, more than any time in the last six years there is real optimism as to the medium and long-term future for this side.

The national selectors do face a difficult dilemma in managing the current metamorphosis of the Scotland side. Whilst they should be rightly praised for giving youth its chance they face criticism for not picking more senior players, ironically by those who have previously criticised the selectors for sticking too long with older players. Fraser Watts is returning from injury and Neil McCallum will be available soon to provide experience to support the younger players as they develop. Dewald Nel and Kyle Coetzer will be available for international games later in the summer. Other youngsters such as Hairs, McLeod and Coleman will also challenge over the coming months.

The most worrying aspect for the coach and selectors are the opening pair. In each game Scotland has struggled at the top of the order, whilst the opposition have made positive starts. In order to move their average score from 215 to 250, Scotland must find openers that can withstand the new white ball whilst not getting bogged down and putting the middle order under more pressure. It will be interesting to see the solution put forward for tomorrow.

This side needs time and will be judged on how it performs against its Associate peers and in the next round of World T20 and hopefully World Cup qualification. Scotland has a group of predominately home-grown young talent that has competed well in recent games, albeit without ultimate success in the professional game. This squad has potential, how it develops will be down to the opportunities that Cricket Scotland can provide it and the will and desire of the players to succeed.