SALTIRES bosses are planning a series of top quality fixtures after being omitted from England’s new county set-up.

Cricket Scotland chief executive Roddy Smith last night revealed that Scotland won’t be included in English cricket’s revamped domestic structure from 2014.

It means Pete Steindl’s side will be denied eight games against quality opposition.

However, Smith believes matches against top international sides, including Australia, will help fill the void.

He said: “Australia are already on our schedule for next summer and we hope to have two additional games against Full Members in 2013.

“The ICC are placing a huge emphasis on more games between the top Associates and Full Members and their A teams - we will benefit by this and also more international games against our direct peers.”

Of the ECB’s decision to omit the Saltires from their new CB50 tournament, Smith added: “CS have known for some time that there was a real possibility that the Saltires would not be included in a new ECB domestic 50-over competition from 2014.

“Indeed we have had a number of discussions with the ECB about this as well as the other ongoing areas of support the ECB provide to Scottish cricket.

“The final outcome of these discussions will be released in due course but are viewed by the CS Board as being a very positive overall outcome.

“Cricket Scotland had put forward to the ECB that ongoing participation in their domestic structure was not a priority.

“With additional support from the ICC and the potential of increased international fixtures in 2013 and beyond, the loss of 8 county games from our schedule creates new opportunities for matches for the national side.

“We will be doing everything we can to maintain a strong and competitive in-season fixture list.”

The last assurance will come as some comfort to coach Steindl who had originally assumed that the Saltires would participate in the new CB50.

The coach said: “There was some uncertainty about the make-up of the new competition and I thought we would be in one of four groups of five teams.

“However, I received a second e-mail which made it clear the counties wanted two groups of nine teams, meaning ourselves and Holland drop out.

“My priority is ensuring that the players get a full programme of quality cricket that will challenge them.

“Hopefully that’s what we’ll get to replace the county games because they have been of great value to me and the players.”

Next season’s CB40 tournament will end a period of regular competition against county opposition for Scotland stretching back to 1980.