A week-long tour of England for Scotland A has allowed many of Scotland’s international and pathway players to find form ahead of an important period for the men’s team.
Matthew Cross, taking on the role of opening batsman, wicketkeeper and captain in various games across the tour, impressed with knocks of 85, 58, 28 for Scotland A.
Tom Sole, Scotland’s young allrounder who has recently returned from an ankle injury, enjoyed his return to cricket after extensive rehab with Northamptonshire County Cricket Club. The six-time capped Scotland player returned figures of 3/16 & 26 against Gloucestershire 2nd XI, 1/32 & 67* against Durham 2nd XI and 1/44 & 53 against England Development.
Scott Cameron, who has earned one international cap and is a regular feature in the Caledonian Highlanders squad, took 3/50 and scored 9* in Scotland A’s opening fixture against Durham 2nd XI. Cameron went wicketless in his second game against England Development, going for 16 runs in 3 overs and scoring 18* with the bat.
In Cameron’s last game of the tour, he returned figures of 1/20 in Scotland A’s 66-run victory over Gloucestershire 2nd XI at Bath CC.
George Munsey, who is currently trialling for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, experienced a stay in the south of England ahead of the Easter weekend to play for Gloucestershire 2nd XI.
Munsey turned out for Gloucestershire on 17th April in a 50-over game against Ireland A, hitting a cautious 16 from 22. Munsey then pulled on the thistle on Saturday 20th April to represent Scotland A in a T20 against Bath CC, hitting 27 off 7 with one 6 and five 4s.
The hard-hitting batsman had an Easter Sunday to remember with 78 from 32 in a T20 for Scotland A against Gloucestershire 2nd XI. Munsey then switched ranks to represent Gloucestershire on the same day, hitting the headlines with a mammoth 147 from 39 balls, which included 20 sixes – six of which were hit in the same over.
The explosive left-hander continued his form into the week with yet another powerful knock of 63* from just 39 deliveries whilst representing Gloucestershire 2nd XI against Sussex 2nd XI on April 23rd.
The Scotland A fixtures provided the opportunity for players to get into form ahead of our Summer Internationals, as well as give young players the chance to make their claim for squad selection. With the squad for Afghanistan and Sri Lanka announced imminently, many players will be happy with their performance ahead of an important year for Scotland.
Speaking ahead of the Scotland A tour, Shane Burger commented “with two important ODI series coming up in May, the tour provides an excellent chance to experience match pressure and work on various combinations and strategies.
“The squad includes a combination of senior Scotland players and players currently on our performance pathway. This will enable all players to have a chance to not only get into form ahead of our busy summer, but also to state a claim for a spot in the senior team.”
You can watch Scotland in action when we take on Afghanistan and Sri Lanka at The Grange in May. Tickets are on-sale now.
