ROSS MAKING INROADS ON INTERPROVINCIAL STAGE

And talking of those who have taken their chance at representative level, look no further than Eglinton lad, Ross Allen.

While the Warriors were struggling against Leinster Lightning at Bready at the start of June the left-arm spinner happily put his hand up to stand in for opening bat, Scott Campbell, who was unable to take his place at the top of the order.

Not that Allen is any mug with the bat himself of course, as he proved by making a dogged 31 that day against the best attack in the country; however his willingness wasn’t lost on McGregor.

He was offered the role again for the three-dayer against the Knights at the same venue and repaid the faith with a stylish 70 before adding 3 wickets in the second innings to put the Belfast side under pressure to save the game.

Afterwards, the Head Coach was full of praise for the make-shift opener who, coincidentally, was turning 20 years old that same day.

“Scott had been off the field the previous evening when the Leinster innings closed so was unable to take his regular spot at the top of the order. Although to be fair I had a couple of alternatives, I asked Ross if he fancied it and he certainly did. You can learn plenty in those types of situations and he absolutely showed the character that I’m after with the Warriors”.

The affable youngster happily carried the drinks in the T20 against Lightning at his home ground last week but there were plenty of nodding approvals coming his way from those not far from the Ireland set-up for his earlier efforts.

Ross has one year left at Leeds Beckett University and had been playing club cricket with Adel CC in the Airedale and Wharfdale Leagues in the Yorkshire city while he finished his semester. And his game is certainly improving at a rate of knots for the experience.

He is well enough grounded to know that plenty of his ilk have looked to be in a similar situation in the past yet never gone on to fulfil that potential. Allen though looks like he has a real shot and with all-round left arm spinners being a rare commodity, who knows what opportunities might present themselves over the next few years.