U-turn from Mommsen boosts Scots
THE Scotland selectors have announced their squad for next week’s Intercontinental Cup and World Cricket League matches against Namibia – and there is a surprise inclusion.
Preston Mommsen, 29, the Grange skipper, has been recalled to the Scotland set-up six months after he announced he was retiring from international cricket. In late November it came as a shock to many when he stepped down as national captain and stopped playing cricket at that level.
However, he has been in fine form for Grange this summer so far and has thrown his hat back into the ring with Scotland, head coach Grant Bradburn selecting him for the two World Cricket League matches on June 11 and 13 at his home ground in Stockbridge.
So far this season he has scored 241 league runs for Grange in the CSL Eastern Premiership, including a superb 156 not out against his old club Carlton.
Ayr CC will host the four-day Intercontinental Cup match starting on Tuesday.
Kyle Coetzer will lead the side with Con de Lange again named as vice-captain.
Stuart Whittingham will build on his Scotland career after impressing on debut against Sri Lanka.
Bradburn:“The team are looking forward to this block of international cricket at home throughout June.
“Preparation over the winter and early part of the summer has been excellent and the players are now itching to play. The I-Cup is a format we value highly, however we have had limited actual game time, as 11 of our 16 days of I-Cup cricket during this three-year cycle, have been washed out.We look forward to our opening contest against Namibia in Ayr, where the conditions normally offer something for every skill set.”
Bradburn, too, has cause for optimism after signing a new deal with Cricket Scotland to continue to lead the national side until the end of 2018.
“It is a very exciting phase for this team,” he said.
“Coming up we’re well aware that we have pressure on us against Namibia and that there’s now going to be a lot of expectation around the upcoming Zimbabwe series but we are keeping our feet firmly on the ground and focusing on one task at a time.
“The one thing I am demanding from the players is that they keep putting forward winning performances each and every time they step onto a cricket field.
“That’s the attitude we are determined to keep bringing to international cricket over the summer.”
The I-Cup match will commence at 11am each day with the World Cricket League matches commencing at 10.45am.
Intercontinental Cup squad: Kyle Coetzer (captain), Con de Lange (vice-captain), Richie Berrington, Matthew Cross, Alasdair Evans, Safyaan Sharif, Michael Leask, Calum MacLeod, Mark Watt, George Munsey, Craig Wallace, Chris Sole, Stuart Whittingham.
World Cricket League squad: Kyle Coetzer (captain), Con de Lange (vice-captain), Richie Berrington, Matthew Cross, Alasdair Evans, Safyaan Sharif, Michael Leask, Preston Mommsen, Calum MacLeod, Mark Watt, George Munsey, Craig Wallace, Chris Sole, Stuart Whittingham.