Burger laments Calum’s decision to call it a day
Shane Burger last night revealed his regret over Scotland legend Calum Macleod’s decision to retire.
Macleod is quitting the international game at the age of just 33, ending one of the most glittering careers of any Scottish player.
One of the country’s highest scorers, Macleod scored the most famous century by a Scot when the Saltires stunned England in 2018.
He was also in the team who upset the West Indies at the T20 World Cup last month, though the Scots were knocked out in the group stage after defeats to Ireland and Zimbabwe.
National head coach Burger said: “I am incredibly sad to see his career end – particularly in the way that it did with us bowing out of the World Cup in the first round as it is not how Calum would have wanted.
“For me personally, he leaves behind a great legacy, not just in the runs he scored, including 10 ODI hundreds, but also his desire to put in performances in the earlier part of his career when he was a bowler and had to transition into a batter.
“He is an incredibly talented sportsman, a fantastic fielder, a real fighter who would front up when required. Those were his characteristics, and he can hold his head really high as he has left Scottish cricket in a better place.”
As recently as August, Macleod made scores of 117 and 133no in World Cup League 2 fixtures against USA, taking his total tally of tons to 13 – two more than any other Scot.
Remarkably, Macleod began his career as a fast bowler and was snapped up as a teenager by Warwickshire.
However, when his action was deemed illegal in 2009, he re-modelled himself as a specialist batsman, going on to represent Durham, Derbyshire, Sussex and Kent, as well as earning 229 Scotland caps.
With a total of 6,289 international runs, Macleod is the third-highest run scorer of all time for Scotland, behind only team-mates Kyle Coetzer and Richie Berrington.
He made history in 2009 when he came on as a substitute fielder in England’s Ashes clash with Australia at Edgbaston, making him the first Gaelic speaker to appear in a Test match.
Macleod retires with a highest ODI score of 175 against Canada in 2014 – the second-best by any Associate batter – though many rate his 157 against Afghanistan in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in Bulawayo as his finest knock.
He is quitting to pursue a teaching career in Kent, and Burger added: “We wish him all the best in his future career and we know he has all the skills and attributes to be really successful.
“We will miss him but respect his decision and wish him well on his journey.”
■ Ben Stokes rode to England’s rescue yesterday as he helped secure a T20 World Cup semifinal spot.
Stokes was averaging 9.8 with the bat in six innings since returning to the T20 set-up but he was up to the mark when England needed him most in their final Super 12s match against Sri Lanka in Sydney yesterday.
England had to win to pip Australia to a second-placed finish in the group but, chasing 142, they stumbled from 75 without loss after 7.1 overs to 129 for six to require 13 from the final 12 balls.
Stokes, batting at first drop after Dawid Malan injured his left groin in Sri Lanka’s innings, stayed cool and his unbeaten 42 off 36 balls helped England to a four-wicket victory with two balls to spare.