The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Angus pair looking to help Scotland qualify
CRICKET: Players hoping fans will turn out in force for T20 World Cup qualifiers
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers in Dundee and Angus begin tomorrow.
Scotland have a 14-strong squad, among them 14-year-old prodigy Katherine Fraser and 18-year-old Megan McColl from Arbroath.
Megan, an all-rounder who picked up a bat and ball at a young age, said: “I started playing when I was quite young. I can’t remember exactly what age I was, maybe six or seven, just doing the softball stuff at Arbroath and playing in Kwik Cricket tournaments and things like that.
“I moved to Australia for a couple of years and played some age-group cricket out there for a while when I was about 12, 13, and then came back here.
“I’m now playing at second team level for Arbroath in the Strathmore Union, which is against other clubs’ first teams, as well as other second elevens. Along with the regional stuff, I’ve also been involved with the under-17s and performance academy this year too.”
She added: “The squad is quite mixed age-wise but we are all at a level which is pretty high.
“Katherine, for example, good player for someone so young. The balance between us all is good and we’ve all got different experiences and the younger ones like Katherine and myself will obviously benefit from the experience of those who have played international cricket already.
“To be able to play in front of the home crowd in Scotland against teams that are that next step up in level will be incredible.”
Head coach Steven Knox said: “Hosting the global qualifier in Dundee and Angus gives Scotland a fantastic opportunity to qualify for the Women’s T20 World Cup next year.
“The squad is in good form after winning four games out of six in the recently concluded T20I quadrangular tournament in the Netherlands, including wins over both Ireland and Thailand who are currently ranked above us. With the return of skipper Kathryn Bryce from the KSL, and the recovery from injury of Abtaha Maqsood, we know that if we play to our potential we have a chance of challenging for one of the two places available.
“It’ s great to be able to show the Scottish public how much the team has improved over the past couple of years and hopefully we can inspire a new generation of youngsters to take up the sport. The team hope supporters will come along in big numbers to cheer them on.”
Squad: Kathryn Bryce (captain), Sarah Bryce, Abbi Aitken-Drummond, Priyanaz Chatterji, Katherine Fraser, Becky Glen, Rachel Hawkins, Lorna Jack, Abtaha Maqsood, Megan McColl, Katie McGill, Hannah Rainey, Ellen Watson, Ruth Willis.