Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Drumpy captain dishes praise on Scotland star
Shaw highlights ex-team-mate’s innings against England
The captain of Drumpellier cricket club has praised former player Calum McLeod for his match winning innings during Scotland’s shock win over England earlier this month.
Gordon Shaw had just become captain of the Drumpy side when a teenage McLeod started training with the first- team around 15-years-ago,
McLeod, now 29, currently plies his trade in England and has spent time with established county sides Durham and Warickshire.
His score of 140- not- out at Edinburgh’s Grange ground led Scotland to the historic win against the side ranked fifth in the world.
A proud Shaw admits he and his team- mates always knew McLeod was beyond his years at 15 and now he has contributed to a moment Scottish cricket will never forget.
Shaw told the Advertiser: “Calum was a very talented boy and it was clear he would go on to bigger and better things. He was always very keen to get involved and learn from the older guys.
“You could tell he loved playing the sport and as well as his talent he had the hunger to make it.
“He was playing with the firsts at 15 and had been training with us for longer.
“But he wasn’t out of place at all and in my opinion, good enough is old enough.
“Everything went perfectly for him against England and I don’t think he could have dreamt it would go that well.
“To put it in football terms, it would be like Scotland beating Spain or a team of that level.
“We’re all delighted for him that he performed to such a high standard against England and his score led Scotland to the win.”
Shaw also revealed around 40 kids currently play cricket at the club on Thursday nights.
And with McLeod’s exploits combined with an imminent benefit from a Sport Scotland grant to the club, Shaw hopes a new generation can be inspired.
He continued: “We’ve been showcasing cricket around schools to try and boost the popularity of the sport.
“It can get a bad name at times because it is seen as a long, timeconsuming game but we’re keen to change those views.
“We want to make it more accessible for youner players and keep attracting more kids to try the sport.
“We already have a good amount of kids taking part but if Calum’s performance as an exDrumpellier player can inspire just one kid then its great.
“Who knows, we might even have another Calum McLeod on their way through the ranks.”