A pair of up and coming Courier Country cricketers are currently training with a top Australian club as part of efforts to further their potential professional careers.
Callum Garden, 17, and Rory Johnston, 18, have flown to Brisbane to train with the Valley District cricket club.
Both players, who play for Forfarshire cricket club in Broughty Ferry, hope to become professionals.
Callum and Rory have risen through the national youth system and have played at international level for Scotland under-15 and under-17 sides.
Rory also recently represented Scotland in the under- team during the World Cup in Bangladesh.
Playing in Australia will give them both the ability to play more cricket in a variety of different environments with challenges to extend their cricketing experiences.
Callum’s dad Lindsay said: “Callum has been playing cricket since he was about 5 years old and both he and Rory have set themselves the goal to become a professional.
“Both Callum and Rory have put a lot of work in to their cricket so far and going to Australia will, I’m sure, help them reach the next step.
“Forfarshire cricket club has been very good in developing their junior players and have invested in coaching across all age levels.
“Coaching in Australia is of the highest standard and their trip has been organised by former Forfarshire professional and Scotland coach Peter Drinnan.
“Hopefully, when they return they will attend trials for English county teams. Several of their Scotland team mates who are slightly older are involved with the professional English team, so it would appear to be the direction to go in.”
Callum is a former Grove Academy pupil and is Forfarshire’s opening batsman and wicket-keeper.
Former Dundee High School pupil Rory is also a top-order batsman and also plays as a off-spin bowler.
Both players will spend eight months Down Under, returning to Scotland in time for the start of the new cricket season in 2018.
