THERE will be a sombre mood in the summer sunshine today following the untimely death during the week of Scottish cricketing stalwart Sandy Strang.

Tributes will be paid around the grounds to one of the game’s great characters and a skilful exponent who had a distinguished career principally with Ferguslie and Clydesdale but who also had spells with Poloc and Kelburne.

A minute’s silence will be observed at Cambusdoon, Ayr, where Ferguslie are the visitors while both sides will wear black armbands.

Gregor Preston-Jones, the Ferguslie batsman and former colleague of Strang, noted: “We have postponed our 1st McCulloch Cup fixture on Wednesday – the day of the funeral - as a mark of respect.

“Sandy is a massive loss to not just Ferguslie but to everyone he met. You will never hear someone with a bad word to say about him.

“He was a gentleman in every sense of the word as well a fierce competitor and an excellent cricketer - the epitome of a team man and a club man.

“Most importantly, he was a great friend to myself and many others. In hard situations, Sandy always knew what to say - from the tough-it-out speeches to having a joke to lighten the mood. He was the kind of man that everyone wanted in their team.”

Ayr skipper Andi McElnea added: “It was very sad news about Sandy. He was a brilliant ambassador for Scottish cricket and will be missed by so many of the cricket community. A true gentlemen!”

The game goes on, though, and Ferguslie have important business to do as they bid to bounce back from their opening day defeat at Poloc against an Ayr team who are aiming for consecutive victories.

Preston-Jones added: “After the disappointment of losing at Poloc we want to bounce back with a win.

“Due to the dry weather over the past two weeks, we should be set for an enthralling encounter. We are a strong side and if we play to our potential we can beat anyone on our day.

“Hopefully the hard work put in at training this week will see a change in fortune and we can kick-start our campaign.”

Preston-Jones has identified New Zealand Test batsman Michael Papps as a key threat but Ayr appear to have greater strength in depth this season and McElnea added: “We have added some players who bring a new energy and dynamic to the squad.

“We had a great start last week and I’m optimistic about what we can achieve this season if we continue to work hard and play to our capacity.”

Ayr go with an unchanged side while leg-spinner Jamie Cook replaces the injured Greg Cameron for Ferguslie.

Elsewhere, champions Clydesdale, impressive on the opening day, start favourites for a second win when they entertain Kelburne while it should be hotly contested at Poloc where Uddingston are the visitors.

Both teams made winning starts and both have been touted as potential title challengers so there is an opportunity to lay down a marker.

East Kilbride and Greenock will attempt to break their duck when they clash at Torrance House while Prestwick aim to make home advantage count for the second week in a row when Dumfries arrive at the Henry Thow Oval.

Meanwhile, in the First Division resurgent Weirs want to build on their record-breaking start to the season when they host Drumpellier.

The southside club are undergoing a quiet revolution under the captaincy of Qasim Sheikh who was one of two centurions as his team posted a mammoth 463-7 in their 220-run win at GHK last week.