Club cricket will resurface with a new complexion next summer after the Scottish National Cricket League welcomed Scotland Under-19s into the Premier Division.

The move, which won unanimous approval from the SNCL member clubs at a forum on Sunday night, was pushed through by Scotland all-rounder and youth performance manager Craig Wright, who will coach the teenagers whenever his Scotland commitments allow.

The under 19s will play their matches on Sundays, travelling once to each of the ten Premier Division clubs and will receive double points to help them gain a competitive footing in the league. To that end, Cricket Scotland is also considering assigning a professional to the team, who will be immune from relegation.

The under 19s failed to qualify for next year's Youth World Cup in Malaysia after losing to Ireland, and their promotion to the club scene is part of the governing body's mission to give aspiring national players more competitive cricket, after Scotland A gained entry into the 2nd XI County Championship.

"When a member of the under-19s comes up against his club he will play for the club, but otherwise I expect them to have a fairly settled team, and, with a full side out, they should be competitive," said CS chief executive Roddy Smith. "It's fantastic news for the young guys."

The news emerged on the day CS published a provisional strategic plan for the years 2008-12, entitled On The Front Foot.

In it, the governing body recommends that a national, domestic Twenty20 competition be introduced, with regional qualifying leading to a gala finals day. Smith said the new concept, earmarked for 2009, could be in place by next year.

CS also pledged to pay £500 to any club that produces a new senior international, and to invest £25,000 annually in the improvement of club facilities, which it described as a "huge area of neglect in recent years".