CHRIS SOLE has recovered from injury and cannot wait to link up with the Scotland squad later this week as they prepare to take on Sri Lanka.
The 23-year-old seam bowler only made his international debut last summer, but such has been his rapid rise that he is now seen as a key man for the future by head coach Grant Bradburn.
Sole has had a busy 2017 but the pace is about to go up a notch as two one-day matches with the star-studded Sri Lankans on Sunday and next Tuesday in Kent, hove into view.
Over the winter, the former Merchiston Castle pupil, who has played most of his cricket with Mazars Grange in Edinburgh, was involved in the club game in Australia.
He was turning out for Albury and the right-arm fast bowler, whose father David famously captained Scotland’s rugby team to the 1990 grand slam, said: “It was a really good experience playing over there. I had a good 2016 so I just wanted to keep going with my cricket, so when the opportunity ca me up I jumped at it. Playing in different conditions and against different types of batsmen was useful for me and I think I learned a lot. I then met up with the Scotland guys to play in the Desert Twenty20 event in Dubai in January and that was very enjoyable, too.”
More good times were soon to come for Sole when English county side Hampshire offered him a deal for this summer.
“My younger brother Tom is at Northamptonshire and has flourished by being able to train every day and focus more on his cricket, so for me to get a chance at Hampshire is great,” he explained.
“I was selected to go on the club’s
pre-season trip to Barbados and I was buzzing, but I was soon down in the dumps because after I hurt my right hand taking a diving catch in a match.
“At first they were not sure how serious it was and thankfully I avoided having surgery, but I had to return from the trip early. It has been a tough couple of months rehab and recovery, but I am enjoying it down here in Southampton and I am learning from some world-class cricketers such as Kyle Abbott and George Bailey.
“The good news is I am now back to fitness and managed to play in a second XI match last week. The upcoming matches for Scotland against Sri Lanka have been on my mind for a while now as you always want to test yourself against the best players in the world.
“I think the Scotland squad is in a good place because although we are missing a few guys, those coming in have really started their respective seasons with a bang and we will enjoy going out and playing with each other.”
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