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Irish Universities will play host to the newly renamed Scottish Students in a series of one day and twenty20 cricket at the end of June. The games to be played at the historic College park ground in Dublin; see a renewal of a rivalry that stopped when the four nations tournament that ran from the mid-1970s was disbanded in the middle of the last decade.
Scottish Universities as it was called then enjoyed some memorable tussles with Irish Universities in those annual tournaments. The Scots’ have changed their name to reflect the fact that students at further education colleges are now eligible to be selected as well as those attending university.

Irish Universities will be led by Zach Rushe from the University of Ulster and have paceman Danny Graham leading the bowling attack. Irish Universities Cricket Association secretary Peter Searson is upbeat about his team’s chances in the challenge series ‘’We feel we have a strong squad ready to take on the Scottish lads, and the mix of one day and twenty20 matches means the series gets decided over two formats and players must show they are adaptable. We believe our squad can keep the silverware on our side of the Irish Sea’’

The first game takes place at College Park on Tuesday 26th June, with two t20s on Wednesday 27th and a final one day match on Thursday 28th June. No matter who wins the silverware this year, the 2013 series will be played in Scotland.

As nationality does not come into selection, those studying at institutions are eligible to play for that nation; there is a mix of talented players from across the British and Irish Isles on both sides. The Scottish Students will be captained by ex –Scotland U19 all-rounder Andrew Brock who is also captain of Edinburgh University and plays for one Scotland’s top clubs, Grange CC. Also in the ranks for the Scots’ are key players such as Ed Abel Smith, the tall fast bowler is being monitored by professional county side Essex. Keith Allen of Edinburgh University, who came through Ulster club Waringstown and won Ireland youth, will be opening the batting for the Scottish Students, having overcome injury to re-establish himself as a batsmen of real class on the Scottish scene, he will be in the ‘shop window’ to alert the Irish selectors of his ability to play at representative level once again. The Scots are coached by Iain Stewart, an ex-Scottish Universities opening bowler who has focussed more on coaching in recent years after knee and achilles injuries have severely curtailed his playing appearances. Stewart has won plaudits for his having his side well drilled and they come into the series on a high after getting the better of the East of Scotland League XI, MCC and Scotland U18 in the warm up games for the series in starting in Dublin on Tuesday.

Gilmour Sports, based in Paisley in the west of Scotland, are sponsors of the Celtic Student Cricket Series as they look to promote their Irish based sports equipment website while supporting the thriving student cricket scene on both sides of the Irish Sea. The first one day game takes place at Trinity College Park on Tuesday 26th June, with two t20s on Wednesday 27th June and a final one day match on Thursday 28th June. No matter who wins the silverware this year, the 2013 series will be played in Scotland.

Fixtures – Gilmour Sports Celtic Students Cricket Series

• Tuesday 26 June Irish Universities v Scottish Students (50 overs a side match)
• Wednesday 27 June Irish Universities v Scottish Students (twenty 20 match one)
• Wednesday 27 June Irish Universities v Scottish Students (twenty 20 match two)
• Thursday 28 June Irish Universities v Scottish Students (50 overs a side match)


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