Cricket Scotland last night launched and celebrated the Scottish Cricket Hall of Fame at the Barcelo Carlton Hotel, in Edinburgh.

These cricketers have all played an integral part in Scottish cricket's development. Their pioneering spirit, their colourful personalities and dedication have all helped shape the sport in this country.

Cricket Scotland seeks to recognise the significant contribution made by the individuals by inducting them into the first Scottish Cricket Hall of Fame. Each year from 2012 a further two inductees will be announced.

On the news of his introduction to the Hall of Fame former Captain Gavin Hamilton said 'I'm very proud and privileged to be among the first inductees into the Scottish Cricket Hall of Fame. It really makes all the hard work over the last 20 years worthwhile'.

Welcoming the new initiative, Cricket Scotland Chairman Keith Oliver said' ‘Cricket in Scotland has a long and distinguished history and it is only right that we recognise the many great players that have represented their country.'

An advisory board including historian Neil Leitch and journalist Norman Mair analysed the merits of all of the nation's internationalists making recommendations to Cricket Scotland for the initial inductees. The inaugural inductees are as follows-

Leslie Balfour (1854-1937)
Balfour first took the field for Scotland in 1874, at the age of 20; but even before that, when only 17 and still at school, he top scored in a match between a Scotland XXII and the All-England XI. He was seen as the batsman of his time in Scotland; he became the first President of the reformed SCU in 1909, and returned, after a 16-year gap, to captain his country against Ireland that year and again in 1910. At the age of 55, he top-scored with his international best of 91. Balfour's cricket achievements are lengthy, especially when considering the evolutionary state of the game which existed during most of his career. He still managed no less than 46 centuries for Grange, MCC, Free Foresters and several other sides. Amongst many exceptional scores were an innings of 150 for Edinburgh against Glasgow in the first match ever played at Grange's new ground in Raeburn Place in 1872, 73 in the famous one-day victory over the 1882 Australians.

Gregor MacGregor (1869-1919)
Fame came to him before he was 20. After two years in the Uppingham team he went up to Cambridge, and as soon as he was seen at the University ground in the spring of 1888 it was realized that a wicket-keeper of extraordinary ability had been found. He gained his Blue at once, and during his four years at Cambridge he was one of the stars of the eleven. He kept wicket for England against Australia at Lord's and the Oval in 1890, and at Lord's, the Oval, and Manchester in 1893. He remained a force in county cricket thereafter, becoming captain of Middlesex.. MacGregor's county commitments limited him to five appearances for the Scotland cricket team between 1890 and 1905, but he sought to make himself available whenever possible

John Kerr (1885-1972)
John Kerr's achievement in scoring 147,15 and 60* against the all-conquering 1921 Australians has perhaps never been surpassed by a player representing Scotland in a competitive cricket match. In the innings of 147, he batted all day at Raeburn Place. Only two batsmen had reached the 100-mark against the tourists at this advanced stage of the season, and in their previous match the Aussies had just rolled over Lancashire in two days. In 1925, an innings of just 31 in in opening stand of 59 against a Lancashire test attack of Macdonald, Parkin and Tyldesley was enough to be remarked on by Wisden as being "the most interesting batting of the match, playing good bowling with marked skill".

James Aitchison (1920-1994)
James Aitchison, along with John Kerr, holds the record of being the only Scottish player to score a century against full test-playing sides. At the time of his retirement, Aitchison had notched up the highest number of international caps for Scotland-69-and also easily the highest run aggregate in such matches-3,699. Aitchison is best remembered for the unique feat of making two centuries against the touring teams; but five other centuries in his 69 capped internationals, and 30,318 runs in all matches make up an impressive tally.

Jimmy Allan (1932-2005) With low, slow wickets, it is perhaps inevitable that Scotland has produced several excellent slow bowlers. Several rose to make their mark in English County cricket. Of these players, Jimmy Allan undoubtedly was the one to achieve most for his Country and in the professional game. Allan earned 60 caps for Scotland between 1953 and 1972, achieving a creditable average of 22 with both bat and ball for Scotland and similar figures for Kent. Five centuries and 435 top-class wickets with his orthodox left-arm spin would make him a valuable addition for any side. His accuracy and reliability were legendary and he would provide the added bonus of being able to bat well up the order. In 2004 he became the first cricketer to have a statue unveiled in his honour at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh.

Mike Denness (B.1940)
Mike Denness is probably the most famous international cricketer to have ever been produced by Scotland. Four test centuries in 28 test matches, and 25,886 first-class runs in a first-class cricket career from 1959 to 1980 are the briefest facts of his achievements. Such a brief synopsis masks a remarkable career in its own right. Followers of the game from Aberdeen to Dumfries, from Yorkshire to Kent, know that Mike Denness was the Scotsman who became cricket captain of England, a juxtaposition that undoubtedly caused a few raised eyebrows and questioning comments. There will always be a feeling of sympathy and understanding for him north of the border, and pride in his achievements. For all this, he and his fellow Scots can hold their heads high.

George Goddard (B.1938)
George Goddard was one of Scotland's most influential players from the mid 1960s to the early 1980s. Part of the greatest ever Heriot's FP XI, his quiet but firm pragmatism made him the most influential internationalist to come from that great team. Not surprisingly, Goddard starred with both bat & ball while at Heriot's School, but it was as a medium-pacer he made his mark as a schoolboy bowler. He made his debut for Heriot's FP in 1957, soon changing to the off-breaks which were to be his trademark. Goddard made seventy eight appearances for Scotland until his retirement from International Cricket in 1983. His most notable match was undoubtedly against MCC in 1973. In MCC's first innings he took all the wickets to fall and finished with 8/134. When Scotland batted, they collapsed to 82/7 before Goddard came to the wicket and transformed the situation with 113* in 221 minutes. Goddard took 1,381 wickets in club cricket and captained Heriot's FP seven seasons in all, but it his contributions to the national cause which will be most remembered. His distinguished career was crowned by the award of an MBE for services to Scottish cricket in the 1982 New Year's Honours List.

Brian Hardie (B.1950)
Brian Hardie learnt his cricket with Stenhousemuir and played 14 times for Scotland before going on to Essex and making the grade there. He can look back on an average of 54 for Scotland and in making 18,103 first-class runs in his time with Essex at an average of 34, he clearly made his mark. His career with Essex stretched from 1973 to 1990, closely matching the county's "glory years", which might be said to have been from 1979 to 1993. After 85 years without winning, or even coming close to any trophy, these 15 seasons brought the county six championships, one NatWest Trophy, one Benson & Hedges Cup and three Sunday League Trophies (as well as four further appearances in losing Lord's finals). Year after year, Essex were in the frame for awards. Hardie was not one of the glamorous names who led Essex to this pinnacle of achievement.From his earliest days with the county, his "style" was apparent; in 1974, spectators were treated to an innings of 4 runs against Hampshire which lasted for 2 hours and 20 minutes. (Wisden does not state whether that score came all in a rush, or was gradually accumulated over the length of his stay at the wicket). Yet, in that very same year, Hardie topped the Essex batting with 1062 runs. Although his style often defied coaching manuals, there was never any doubt as to the success of his methods, or to his fierce determination and tremendous value to the side". Brian Hardie - a rock to lean on in adversity.

Iain Philip (B.1958)
Iain Philip was born and brought up in Stenhousemuir, just like fellow Hall of Fame member Brian Hardie. The difference for Iain was that his family emigrated to Australia just after he was getting to grips with the game in the Stenhousemuir Colts teams. His cricket education developed well in Australia, turning him into a fine back-foot batsmen, never happier than when powering the ball through cover point. Philip soon found an ideal opening partner in Bruce Russell and they provided a continuous backbone to the Scotland innings up to the 199 World Cup. In all he played one hundred and thirty five times for his country. This has been beaten seven times in recent years with the proliferation of representative cricket, but Philip's total of 4,831 runs (at an average of 34.26) has only once been beaten. Philip was very much a run machine at a time when Scottish batsmen struggled to cope with the demands of facing professional bowling. It was no surprise when he scored the first ever century by a Scotland batsman against a County in a competitive match-102* against Somerset at Taunton in 1992.

Dougie Brown (B.1968)
Dougie Brown is an all-rounder who represented both England and Scotland at One Day International level. As a youngster Brown attended Alloa Academy, represented Clackmannan County cricket club and played football at under-18 level for Scotland. He also played for Feltham Rugby Football club as a competent fullback, choosing to focus on cricket shortly afterwards. He first came to the attention of Warwickshire in 1992 whilst playing for Scotland, signing for the county and making his debut in the same year. He went on to spend his entire career with the county, for whom he scored over 12500 runs and took over 850 wickets at first-class and list A cricket. Brown played for Scotland in the 2005 ICC Trophy, taking 11 wickets in the tournament, and scoring 59 runs in the final, to help Scotland win the competition. As a result, Scotland gained temporary One-day International status, and Brown played ODI cricket for Scotland in the 2006 European Cricket Championships, 2007 World Cricket League and 2007 Cricket World Cup. At the end of the 2007 season Dougie Brown retired from cricket to take up a coaching role at his beloved Warwickshire County Cricket Club. He is also a regular summariser for the BBC's cricket coverage including Test Match Special.

Gavin Hamilton (B. 1974)
Gavin Hamilton is an all-round cricketer who played one Test for England and also appeared in a number of One Day Internationals for Scotland. From a Linlithgow family, he was educated in Kent. He returned to win Scotland Under 16 and Under 19 caps as a batsman who bowled a bit of medium pace, but after wintering in South Africa under the guidance of Omar Henry, he came back to continue his career at West Lothian County Cricket Club as a genuine pace bowler with a very fast arm. He began his senior career in 1993, taking 5-65 in the first innings of his first-class debut, in Scotland's annual game against Ireland. He also played a few times that year for Yorkshire's Second XI, making his first-team debut for the county in 1994. He took a few years to become established in the side, but by 1998 was an important team member: that summer he took 59 first-class wickets at 20.54 as well as scoring six fifties, and claimed 34 one-day scalps at 18.94. Playing for Scotland and the Scottish Saltires. In 2008, while playing against Ireland Hamilton scored his maiden One Day International century. Hamilton was appointed captain of the Scottish One Day International team in April 2009.

Craig Wright (B.1974)
Craig Wright is a big hitting right-handed middle order batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler. Wright represented Scotland at both Under 16 and Under 19 level before making his senior debut in a match against Ireland on August 9, 1997. He went on to play 194 times for Scotland, including the 2007 Cricket World Cup and 20/20 World Cup in 2007 & 2009. In 2002 he was appointed captain of the national side, a role he kept until stepping down at the end of the 2007 World Cup. As captain he lifted the 2004 Intercontinental Cup and the 2005 ICC Trophy for Scotland as well as steering them to the final of the ICC World League Division 1 (which qualified the team for the 2007 20/20 World Cup). In total he captained Scotland a record 107 times. He has played an important role in Scottish cricket off the field, juggling his playing career with the job of Cricket Scotland's Performance Development Manager, having previously served as their Development Officer and Marketing Manager. He refocused his career on this role following his retirement as a player. He led Scotland to victory in the 2004 Intercontinental Cup and the 2005 ICC Trophy and is the leading wicket taker in Scotland's history.

More information about the Hall of Fame can be found at www.cricketscotland.com