Bryce takes over as captain as Scots prepare for T20 global qualifiers
Kathryn Bryce has set her sights on a successful summer after she was named Scotland Women’s cricket team’s new captain.
All-rounder Bryce, who is 20 and came through the ranks at George Watson’s College and Watsonians before moving to Loughborough University, takes over from Abbi Aitken, who previously held the position for eight years.
Aitken will still be available for selection, but it is Bryce who will lead the way in 2018 with a big ECB T20 campaign to come before the ICC T20 global qualifiers in the Netherlands in July. Bryce said: “It’s a great honour to be asked to captain such an amazing team with some exciting times coming up, starting with the ICC global qualifiers this summer.
“I’ve been around the group of girls for a while now and captained the side on a few occasions last year so I’m really looking forward to being able to do it again.”
Bryce’s first game in charge will come against Hampshire on 10 June. Amir Khan fights in Britain for the first time in five years tomorrow night and admits the emergence of homegrown boxers like Anthony Joshua has fuelled his comeback.
Khan faces Canadian Phil Lo Greco in Liverpool 23 months after he was beaten by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Las Vegas and five years since he last fought on these shores against Julio Diaz in Sheffield.
Joshua had not even started his professional career then but the current world heavyweight champion’s ascent, in bouts that have all taken place in Britain, has ensured the sport’s popularity has risen.
And Khan, who has buried the hatchet with Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn to sign a three-fight deal with Matchroom, admits watching high-profile fights in Britain from ringside partially motivated him to return.
“You look at these great fighters like Joshua cleaning up, doing really well, knocking guys out, selling out stadiums and I’m like, ‘Wow, this is where I want to be again’,” the 31-yearold said.
“I’ve done it in the past and I want to do it again. I know I’ve got a style where the crowd will come and watch me and want to see me. Fighters like Joshua give you that inspiration to come out and do well and sell out stadiums again. Boxing’s on a high. What Eddie’s doing, this is what we needed.
“British boxing was really dying and Eddie’s brought it back alive again. I remember the days when I used to fight in America all the time because in Britain, boxing wasn’t as big as what we wanted it to be.
“Now fighters are coming from America to England because of what Eddie’s done. It’s only making boxing a bigger, better sport.”
Lo Greco is convinced the 2004 Olympic silver medallist’s best days are behind. “I was a fan, I think you’ve done great,” Lo Greco told Khan at the press conference. “I believe your best years are done, I think your best years were in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and it’s going to show on Saturday night.”