Scottish Cricket has finalised a deal with The Grange Club, Edinburgh, which will give Scottish Cricket a national `home' for its first year in the National Cricket League (formerly NUL). The Grange Club was chosen after almost a year of consultation in association with sportscotland, and final pitch evaluations by the ECB. Scottish Cricket Director of Operations, Euan McIntyre, said:

"This has been an incredibly intense and time consuming process, but if Scotland are to compete at a `first-class' level it was essential that we were meticulous in our assessment of the possible venues. The Grange have been chosen primarily because of their superb playing facilities, but their city centre location and excellent transport links will also be vitally important in the Marketing and Branding of Scotland's premier summer sporting event."

All 9 home games of the 2003 Norwich Union League plus the C&G Trophy 3rd round match will be played at Raeburn place, home of the historic Edinburgh club. Honorary Secretary, Gordon Tolland, was delighted with the decision:

"We are very proud to be chosen as Scotland's home venue for the National League. This is the most exciting and important development in Scottish Cricket for many years and The Grange Club looks forward to playing an integral part in its success. The Grange has hosted major cricketing events at Raeburn Place for over 100 years and, as acknowledged at the 1999 World Cup, our ground offers a wicket and backdrop second to none."

The Grange Club have also hosted the majority of International test sides, with Australia visiting 15 times and South Africa 5 times, plus visits in recent years from the West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand. It was also the venue of Scotland's most famous victory against Worcestershire in the Nat West Trophy in June 1998.

As ever the NCL starts very early in May and continues until mid September. Scotland's first match will be away against Durham, but the first home matches will be an enticing, double header against Somerset, firstly on 7 May in the C&G Trophy and then again on 9 May in their first home NCL match.

According to Euan McIntyre, "2003 will be sheer gluttony for the cricket enthusiast, with a first class schedule of the like never seen north of the Border. But for the general sporting fan, Scotland's entry into the English professional league will provide Scottish-based, top quality sporting action throughout summer, something that has been lacking in years gone past."

Mike Hendrick, Scotland's bowling coach and ex England international and Derbyshire strike bowler, was equally enthusiastic:

"2003 now presents us weekly opportunities to take Scottish Cricket to new levels. We all - players & coaching staff - know that we are in for hard games against pro-sides and world class players, but as we showed in previous years' B&H games, the more we played the more competitive we became, and even beat 2 two County sides. If I were a Scottish Cricketer with ambition, I'd be wanting a huge piece of next season's action!"

2003 First Class Fixtures:
Sun 4th May             Durham                  away            NCL
Wed 7th May             Somerset                home            C&G
Fri 9th May             Somerset                home            NCL
Mon 19th May            Middlesex               home            NCL
Tue 20th May            Derbyshire              home            NCL
Sun 25th May            Lancashire              away            NCL
Sun 1st June            Hampshire               home            NCL
Sat 6th June            Pakistan                home    (venue TBA)
Sun 15th June           Somerset                away            NCL
Tue 17th June           Middlesex               away		NCL
Sun 6th July            Nottinghamshire         home		NCL
Mon 7th July            Durham                  home		NCL
Wed 9th July            Lancashire              home		NCL
Sun 3rd Aug             Sussex                  away		NCL
Mon 4th Aug             Hampshire               away		NCL
Wed 6th Aug             Northamptonshire        away		NCL
Tues 26th Aug           Northamptonshire        home		NCL
Thu 28th Aug            Sussex                  home		NCL
Sun 7th Sept            Derbyshire              away		NCL
Sun 14th Sept           Nottinghamshire         away		NCL