Aberdeenshire cricket coach Neil MacRae has been head-hunted to manage the Austria national team.

MacRae, who led the Mannofield club to a Scottish National League and cup double last year, will travel to Vienna this weekend.

He was approached by the Austrians after impressing ICC Europe staff at a coaching camp earlier this year and accepted his new role after receiving assurances he can remain as player-coach of Aberdeenshire.

The 38-year-old, who combines his coaching role at Mannofield with a position with Cricket Scotland as coach of the Highlands regional side, said: “The Austria job came out of the blue, but I look on it as another major cricketing challenge.

“It is a part-time position and will let me continue with Aberdeenshire, which was a major factor for me.

“Going to Austria is very much a step into the unknown, but it is a great opportunity to cut my teeth as coach of a national team.

“It will equate to around four visits over the year.

“This in no way diminishes my dedication to Aberdeenshire or the Highlanders.”

Austria, an affiliate member of the ICC, are ranked a lowly 22nd in Europe and boast only a few hundred club players.

However, MacRae added: “In international terms the Austrians may be well down the pecking order but so were Afghanistan a few years ago.

“They have to be the model for all emerging nations. If you get a team which plays for each other and builds momentum together you can see what is possible. I will meet them this weekend and they are competing in a triangular tournament with Switzerland and the Czech Republic. I will be able to assess them and put a structure in place for the future.

“The main target is the World Cricket League Twenty20 fixtures next summer.”

MacRae’s reputation as a coach rose further last weekend when he guided unfancied Caledonia Highlanders to Scottish cricket’s first Regional Series title with victory against favourites Eastern Knights. He is also expected to remain as Highlanders coach next season.