The ICC's official preview of the World Cricket League landed on our electronic mats yesterday and it would have made pleasing reading for Scotland's cannier fans.

On the surface, the fact that extensive attention was given to youthful promise among the Kenyan and Irish ranks - without a mention of Richie Berrington, or any compatriot - could have had a deflating effect. But Gordon Drummond should feel that he has the watching world exactly where he wants them.

For a decade Scotland travelled to these tussles with associate peers with poly bags tied over their heads, struggling to breathe until the pressure of reputation upkeep could be released. Ryan Watson suffocated himself ahead of driving a creaking vehicle to South Africa early last year, and the team tipped to come second came sixth, one defeat from being sent to international Siberia.

Now Scotland, for all their prowess in the Intercontinental Cup, travel to top-shelf associate gatherings without the governing body giving any thought to dusting down the trophy cabinet, and few opponents fearing them, and that could help enormously.

We are loath to move on, however, without wondering what Berrington has to do this season to win due recognition. Did those three CB40 half-centuries, the runs in Holland and the matchwinning hundred against India A really go unnoticed south of Inverclyde?

Not only have county offers (as far as we know) been conspicuous by their absence so far, the ICC's press team did not seem to realise that the Caledonian No 5 is, albeit suddenly, among the very best players at this level.

Again, perhaps Berrington prefers it that way. His flame has been latent for several seasons now and to promote him as the star man this week and next in the Netherlands might be dangerous (he didn't hang around long enough to demonstrate his textbook array of strokes against England).

Can Drummond continue his remarkable winning run as captain this week? The lack of depth exhibited by Ireland against West Indies' second string last week suggested Trent Johnston's side will have to be content with life among the peloton rather than storming out in front as usual, while the Dutch are always more beatable when their world-class all-rounder - he of the immortal clanger "I'm South African through and through" - is not around.

Canada had a wretched time in Dubai in February, but then so did Scotland and they have long since left any sour tastes - not to mention a few underachieving players - behind them.

Perhaps the key man for Drummond is not Berrington but the good friend who accompanied him to Sydney on the Terry Racionzer scholarship programme the winter before last.

Not since his early days in the Saltire apparel has Ross Lyons been his country's senior spinner, and the selectors' tendency to only place trust in Glenn Rogers or Majid Haq has constantly agitated him.

This week the gregarious leftie from Glasgow's south side gets his chance, the promise of 60 overs to prove he can undermine rival batting ambitions, and if Lyons takes wickets, Scotland's newfound morale can propel them to something resembling a title challenge.