There have, of course, been players who have impressed. Matt Machan, with a century against Kenya, and numerous healthy contributions, has nailed his name to the teamsheet at number three for the foreseeable future. Kyle Coetzer, the new captain, has continued to be his usual consistent self. Calum MacLeod remains one of the most improved cricketers anywhere near the Scottish team. Preston Mommsen enjoyed a fruitful spell against the counties, and then played a captain's innings of true character against Ireland. But with all of those batsmen doing so well, where have all the runs gone?
Well, some of the blame has to go on luck. With Kyle Coetzer out with a wrist injury, the backup Scottish batsmen have not been impressing nearly as much as they to take their chances to cement places in the side; Freddie Coleman and Hamish Gardiner at the top of the order have not been causing opposition captains to quake in their boots. In addition, there seems to be no consistency about the batting order, as the middle order shuffles around constantly; any batsman will tell you that there is a huge difference between batting at four and six.
Freddie Coleman has undoubted potential, but is enduring something of a horror trot to start his international career.
Who are the players who can take Scotland to the World Cup? Coetzer, Mommsen, Berrington, MacLeod, Machan, Murphy, Taylor, Wardlaw and Haq should all be there, but who else? Batting wise, the rest of the pack are much of a muchness. Gardiner, Coleman, Chalmers, Hairs, Cross, Wallace, Stander and Iqbal - none of them particularly stands up to shout "pick me!" Similar is true of the bowlers: Drummond, Goudie, Burnett, Parker, Sadler and many others are in the frame, but not banging down the selectors' door.
Unfortunately, the next generation aren't knocking on the door as firmly as is desirable.
Kyle Coetzer 670 runs @ 47.85 in 15 ODIs Calum MacLeod 246 runs & 7 wickets in 15 ODIs Matt Machan 266 runs @ 38.00 in 7 ODIs Preston Mommsen 396 runs @ 24.95 in 18 ODIs Josh Davey 254 runs & 15 wickets in 11 ODIs Richie Berrington 486 runs @ 21.13 in 28 ODIs Majid Haq 477 runs & 48 wickets in 38 ODIs Rob Taylor 49 runs & 7 wickets in 5 ODIs David Murphy 38 runs @ 7.60 in 7 ODIs Neil Carter 5 wickets @ 26.40 in 3 ODIs Iain Wardlaw 13 wickets @ 26.84 in 7 ODIs Back-up players: | Kyle Coetzer of Northamptonshire is Scotland's best batsman when he is fit and firing. A titan at Associate level, he would give them exactly the sort of start they need in important matches: a reliable one with few frills, but reliably quick scoring. Coetzer is also an excellent fielder. Calum MacLeod is the hardest working cricketer you could ever wish to find. He started his career at nine and ten, but quickly moved up to open the innings, scoring 99 not out against Canada. He has never batted more than four times in the same position, and I think deserves an extended run at the top of the order. He is also back bowling, and bowling pretty well. Talented young Matt Machan has already inked himself in at number three for Scotland, courtesy of his century against Kenya and a classy knock against the Australians. He has also been called on as an off-spinner, despite not bowling for his county side, and has done so with reasonable success. Preston Mommsen has also spent a lot of his time floating around the batting order. He had settled nicely at five, but produced an excellent unbeaten 91 against Ireland from four to almost fashion a victory. The responsibility of that, coupled with the captaincy, has suited him, and he will hope to be the rock of the line-up. Scotland are a batsman short. I considered a number of players for this position: Ewan Chalmers, who his his first ton against Kenya, or Freddie Coleman to move down the order, or even big-hitting Jan Stander. In the end, though, I settled on Josh Davey, who is a solid but not spectacular all-round cricketer. There is no more potentially destructive batsman in the Scottish camp than Richie Berrington, as proved by his brutal ton against Bangladesh. However, his lack of big scores necessitates his use in the side as a finisher. Also a competent medium-pace bowler, but ideally won't be used in that department. As well as being Scotland's star off-spinner, Majid Haq is a highly capable batsman. He was once used at the top of the order, and I think that in the absence of any better batting options, he should be shuffled up in the batting order. Hopefully, he will continue to be no less than excellent with the ball. Leicestershire's left-arm medium pacer has made a good impression for Scotland. His nagging bowling does enough to take the odd wicket, and can keep the runs fairly well under control too. He also has reasonable batting ability, and is a highly promising young cricketer. David Murphy is an exceptionally secure gloveman, and competent batsman. In his short Scottish career thus far, he hasn't let the side down at all, although there is a long line of good glovemen who all want a chance as well. The winner in the long run will probably be the one who bats best. Neil Carter is not an investment in the future, but at 38, with a decade and a half of first-class cricket behind him, he adds the sort of nous at the death that Iain Wardlaw desperately needs to partner him. Once upon a time, he scored centuries too, but that day seems to have passed. Iain Wardlaw was a late starter with Yorkshire, and then with Scotland, but he has shown a maturity and skill that has been finely honed in one of England's top cricket leagues. The paciest of the Scottish seamers, he is the spearhead of the attack, alongside Majid Haq of course. The other members I'd have in my squad would be Matt Cross, the back-up Notts gloveman; Gordon Drummond, the reliable and economical seamer; Ewan Chalmers, who scored his maiden first-class ton this year, and Freddie Coleman of Warwickshire. |