Tony Judd has backed Ewan Chalmers to become the Saltires next batting star. The Watsonians batsman is expected to be handed a Cricket Scotland contract later this week and Judd believes Chalmers is ready to blossom.

Former Saltires assistant coach Judd said: “Scotland have a lot of promising players who have come through the elite coaching programmes and academies and Ewan is the best of them.

“He’s got huge talent and should become a fixture at the top of the Saltires batting order.” Chalmers, 23, earned the first of his 14 caps in 2009 and already boasts an international century against MCC at Lord’s.

Meanwhile, former Northants wicketkeeper Toby Bailey is frontrunner to replace Judd as the Saltires No2 and video analyst after performing the dual role during Scotland’s recent tour to South Africa.

The vacancy arose after Australian Judd announced his departure to become head of cricket at the Northern Territory Institute of Sport in Darwin later this year.