Scotland Captain Charlie Peet cannot wait to lead his “close-knit” squad into the ICC under-19 men’s World Cup in the West Indies on Friday.
The former Stewart’s Melville College pupil and current Grange CC player and his team mates have been adjusting to life in the Caribbean over the last week or so and have played two warm-up games in recent days in preparation for the showpiece event for age-grade cricketers.
On Monday, the team batted first against Uganda and made a healthy 219-9 from their 50 overs with Charlie Tear of West Chiltington and Thakeham CC leading the way with 50 and Grange CC’s Jack Jarvis chipping in with 33.
Oliver Davidson (3-14) and Jamie Cairns (3-15) were then the pick of the bowlers, the Harborne CC and Grange CC players figures helping bowl out Uganda for 112 and give the team a 107-run win.
On Wednesday, things did not go quite as well against Ireland, but it was all part of the learning curve and helped the players prepare for the tournament ‘proper’.
The Scots batted first once again and posted 138 all out before Ireland got home by seven wickets in reply, but not before Davidson had impressed again by taking two wickets.
Now the team are raring to go against Sri Lanka on Friday (9am local time, 1pm GMT) in their first Group D game in Guyana and spinner Peet said: “We are very excited.
“After a quarantine period we have had some very good training sessions and the two warm-up matches and the boys just can’t wait to get out there now and play the competitive matches.
“I’ve shared some experiences of what it was like at the last World Cup in South Africa in 2020 and I am just constantly telling the boys to enjoy the experience and embrace the chance to play against some of the best players in the world
“We were a close-knit group before the pandemic arrived [in March 2020] and having to deal with restrictions and such like and battle against the odds has just made us even more close-knit.
“We have lots of talent amongst the group and I’m confident we will be able to showcase this in our games.”
After the game against Sri Lanka, Scotland will take on the might of the hosts next Monday and then Australia next Wednesday.
Rather than be overawed by the opposition, Peet sees it as a great opportunity for the Scots.
“Obviously we’re coming up against three big names of world cricket, but we need to make sure we aren’t overwhelmed by that and be the best version of ourselves that we can be on game day.
“Seeing how well the full men’s team did at the T20 World Cup a few months ago gives us inspiration as some of our guys have trained with – and gained tips from – players from that squad.
“To see them doing so well against the world’s best gives us motivation to follow in their footsteps and achieve something special at this tournament.”
Peet will be supported on the field by his Vice-Captain and long-time friend Tom Mackintosh who now plays for Newcastle CC while the off field team is led by former Scotland Captain Drummond as Head Coach.
Cedric English and Gloucestershire CCC’s Owen Dawkins who has previously worked with the men’s national side, are Assistant Coaches while, with the emphasis Cricket Scotland continues to place on player welfare, Psychologist Sahen Gupta has travel with the team to provide support to the players and staff.
Squad:
Jamie Cairns (Grange CC)
Christopher Cole (Hampton Wick Royal CC)
Aayush Dasmahapatra (Aberdeenshire CC)
Olly Davidson (Harborne CC)
Sam Elstone (Weston-Super-Mare CC)
Sean Fischer-Keogh (Greenock CC)
Gabriel Gallman-Findlay (Taunton CC)
Jack Jarvis (Grange CC)
Rafay Khan (Renfrew CC)
Tom Mackintosh (VC) (Newcastle CC)
Muhaymen Majeed (Renfrew CC)
Ruaridh McIntyre (Carlton CC)
Charlie Peet (C) (Grange CC)
Lyle Robertson (Falkland CC)
Charlie Tear (West Chiltington and Thakeham CC)
