The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Scots women book World Cup tickets
Forfarshire’s Craig Wallace says Scotland’s women qualifying for the cricket T20 World Cup is “humungous” for the sport in this country.
Interim head coach Wallace, his backroom staff and the players have just about come down from cloud nine after they got over the line on Sunday against Ireland in the qualifying semi-final in Abu Dhabi to make sure the team will be going to their first ever showpiece event.
“This is humungous for women’s cricket going forward,” said Wallace.
“The game has grown so much in a really short space of time and these girls now are role models, they’re good players and good people.
“Hopefully, the game in Scotland not only grows but becomes one of our biggest sports.
“I’m looking forward to seeing more girls and women getting involved now to help really grow the game.
“It’s what the game deserves and it’s what these players deserve.”
And Arbroath product Megan McColl has been reacting to helping the Scotland cause, saying “it feels amazing”.
“As a group we’ve all grown massively. This was the first year where we came here feeling that we can do this,” she said after her half-century helped beat Ireland.
“We all believe in each other and we all back each other.
“That’s probably the biggest growth we’ve had as a team, that mindset shift, to be a team who can come out on top and not be the underdogs all the time.
“We focus solely on ourselves and not the opposition.
“It’s incredible now to think about some of the teams we’ll come up against at the World Cup in Bangladesh later this year.
“Part of me still has the adrenaline of the game running through me so it’s maybe not quite sunk in yet. But it’s crazy to think that we’re going, it feels amazing.”
Scotland play Sri Lanka in the qualifier final today.
● Durham batter Michael Jones and Hampshire seamer Brad Wheal have been named in Scotland’s provisional squad for this summer’s men’s T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA.
The pair have been included in a 15-man party for the tournament, in which the Scots, under captain Richie Berrington, will face England, Namibia, Oman and Australia in Group B.
Scotland open their campaign in a mouthwatering clash against England in Bridgetown on Tuesday June 4.
Head coach Doug Watson said: “It was a really difficult selection meeting and it’s never easy getting it down to a squad of 15.
“I think it was ultimately about getting the balance of the squad just right and we feel we’ve done that.
“It’s good that we’ve got some of our county players available and we are really excited with the 15 we’ve chosen, so now we can look forward to what lies ahead.
“To have Michael Jones and Brad Wheal available, their experience from previous T20 World Cups is crucial for the group.
“I’m looking forward to meeting them both, getting to know them and seeing their skills up close. That first game against England, it’ll be quite a day – but we won’t look too far ahead.
“We’ll just ensure that we prepare as well as we can as a team and individually, to represent Scotland as best we can.”
The squad is due to leave for Trinidad and Tobago, where they will complete their preparations and play two warm-up games, on Sunday May 26 before heading for Barbados.
Scotland’s provisional squad for T20 World Cup: Richie Berrington (captain), Matthew Cross, Brad Currie, Chris Greaves, Oli Hairs, Jack Jarvis, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Chris Sole, Charlie Tear, Mark Watt, Brad Wheal.