Cricket365 - Scotland Cricket | Cricket World Cup, Scotland News, Scotland Scores, Scotland Profiles, Craig Wright, John Blain, Dougie Brown, Gavin Hamilton.

SCOTLAND PROFILES

E-mail this Article

Print this Article

Subscribe to RSS Feed

Craig Wright (c)

Born: 28.04.1974
ODIs: 13
Role: All-rounder
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 18.00
Strike-Rate: 78.64
Bowl: Rt-arm medium
Average: 20.63
Economy: 4.65

Dubbed 'Mr Fantastic' by former coach Andy Moles, Wright is an economical medium pacer who became Scotland's record wicket taker in 2005 with his 173rd victim. Usually batting at six or seven, Wright is a useful hitter, having notched up a couple of first class fifties in his time with Scotland, Greenock, West of Scotland and Carlton. By day, Wright is marketing manager for Cricket Scotland.

Dougie Brown

Born: 29.10.1969
ODIs: 22 (9 for Eng)
Role: Bowler
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 15.93
Strike-Rate: 67.28
Bowl: Rt-arm fast-med
Average: 37.76
Economy: 5.51

Brown was a key member of the Warwickshire side that ruled the one-day roost in the nineties. A quick bowler with a habit of picking up crucial wickets, Brown made his Scotland debut in 1989, then re-qualified for his native land after representing England in nine ODIs. Was a key figure in Scotland's 2005 ICC Trophy success that secured their qualification for the World Cup.

Gavin Hamilton

Born: 16.09.1974
ODIs: 18
Role: All-rounder
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 39.60
Strike-Rate: 74.60
Bowl: Rt-arm medium
Average: 53.33
Economy: 4.36

Hamilton is the only member of the Scotland squad to have played in a Test match, appearing for England against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1999. However, a bout of the dredded yips curtailed Hamilton's first class career. A genuine all-rounder, Hamilton has both first class and list A centuries under his belt, and his ability to score freely gives him a mightily impressive ODI average.

Ryan Watson

Born: 12.11.1976
ODIs: 14
Role: All-rounder
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 38.92
Strike-Rate: 79.06
Bowl: Right-arm medium
Average: 63.00
Economy: 7.26

Born in Zimbabwe, Watson is a crowd-pleasing, powerful middle-order batsman who scores runs very, very quickly, as he did with an 85 ball 80 on his ODI debut. However, his finest hour was probably in Scotland's epic run chase against Canada in January 2007. Set 293 to win, Watson helped the Scots to their target by flaying 123 from 120 balls. Has also deputised for captain Craig Wright.

Doug Lockhart

Born: 19.01.1976
ODIs: 4
Role: Batsman
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 32.00
Strike-Rate: 90.14
Bowl: n/a
Average: n/a
Economy: n/a

Lockhart has made over 150 appearances for Scotland (notching up a top score of 119 not out), but has played in just one of their official ODIs, against Pakistan in 2006. Lockhart now usually plays the role of 'finisher' for the Scotland side, often coming in to bat at six or seven to shepherd the tail home. He also keeps wicket for his club, a role that he occasionally plays for Scotland.

Neil McCallum

Born: 25.11.1977
ODIs: 14
Role: Batsman
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 21.92
Strike-Rate: 66.16
Bowl: n/a
Average: n/a
Economy: n/a

Made his debut in 2000, but McCallum spent four years in the wilderness after being dropped in 2002. However, he cemented his place in Scotland's middle order after some impressive performances upon his return in 2006, featuring a fifty on his ODI debut against Pakistan. One of Scotland's better fielders, McCallum usually takes the vital position of point.

Navdeep Poonia

Born: 11.05.1986
ODIs: 8
Role: Batsman
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 13.87
Strike-Rate: 76.55
Bowl: n/a
Average: n/a
Economy: n/a

The youngest member of the Scotland squad, Poonia made his ODI debut against Ireland in 2006. A promising right-handed bat, Poonia has already made several appearances for Warwickshire, including making an impressive 35 on his first class debut against West Indies A, as well as appearing in three Twenty20 games and a number of C&G Trophy and Pro40 matches.

Majid Haq

Born: 11.12.1983
ODIs: 10
Role: All-rounder
Bat: Left-hand
Average: 31.00
Strike-Rate: 73.11
Bowl: Right-arm offspin
Average: 35.58
Economy: 4.64

A promising all-rounder who has been in and out of the Scotland side since his debut in 2002, Haq forced his way into the World Cup squad after some useful showings for the 'A' side at the tail-end of the 2006 season. Haq was among the players criticised by former coach Andy Moles in 2005 for lack of fitness, but he seems to have found favour again. Is sometimes used in a pinch-hitting role.

Colin Smith

Born: 27.09.1972
ODIs: 11
Role: Wicketkeeper
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 18.00
Strike-Rate: 69.23
Bowl: n/a
Average: n/a
Economy: n/a

A stalwart of Scottish cricket, either Smith or Doug Lockhart will keep wicket for Scotland during the World Cup. Spent six seasons playing club cricket in Australia, Smith is a useful batsman whose average probably suffers from having to either score quick runs down the order, or bat with the tail after a collapse. Smith's day job is a policeman in his native Aberdeenshire.

Fraser Watts

Born: 05.06.1979
ODIs: 12
Role: Batsman
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 29.75
Strike-Rate: 64.55
Bowl: Rt-arm medium
Average: n/a
Economy: n/a

A batsman who is bang in form coming into the World Cup, Watts will play a crucial role in stabilising Scotland's batting line-up. Watts can open the batting, a role that he has filled for some of Scotland's warm-up games and hit three half-centuries in a row against Canada, the Netherlands and Kenya. Has two first class hundreds to his name, and can also bowl medium pacers.

Paul Hoffman

Born: 14.01.1970
ODIs: 12
Role: All-rounder
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 6.75
Strike-Rate: 128.57
Bowl: Rt-arm fast-med
Average: 24.66
Economy: 4.21

A Queenslander by birth, Hoffman qualified to play for his adoptive country in 2001. A naggingly accurate quick bowler who favours the classic off stump line, Hoffman is currently the leading wicket taker in the history of the Scottish National Cricket League. He is also a more than useful - if uncomplicated - batsman, often used as a pinch-hitter.

Ross Lyons

Born: 08.12.1984
ODIs: 13
Role: All-rounder
Bat: Left-hand
Average: 38.50
Strike-Rate: 61.60
Bowl: Left-arm slow
Average: 56.20
Economy: 5.66

While much of the squad came under criticism for a lack of fitness by former coach Andy Moles, Lyons was singled out as taking to the national squad 'like a duck to water'. Was also selected for the 2006 ICC Winter Training Camp in Pretoria, where his skills were honed by former England bowling coach Bob Cottam, who also helped Scotland in the lead up to the 2005 ICC Trophy.

John Blain

Born: 04.01.1979
ODIs: 18
Role: Bowler
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 14.09
Strike-Rate: 54.38
Bowl: Rt-arm fast-med
Average: 31.95
Economy: 5.60

Although he toyed with a career in football in his formative years, Blain signed professional terms with Northamptonshire aged just 17 in 1996, and made his first class debut the following year. A quick bowler with genuine pace, Blain claimed the prized scalp of one Ricky Ponting on his ODI debut in the 1999 World Cup at New Road, and had the best strike rate of any bowler at that tournament.

Dewald Nel

Born: 06.06.1980
ODIs: 5
Role: Bowler
Bat: Right-hand
Average: n/a
Strike-Rate: 50.00
Bowl: Rt-arm med-fast
Average: 59.66
Economy: 4.99

Nel made his Scotland debut against Durham in 2004. A deceptively quick right-armed bowler, Nel usually takes the new ball, and has spent the past couple of winters in South Africa (at the ICC Academy) and Australia to develop his game. A useful lower order hitter, he occasionally moves up the line-up when required, and has a handy best score for Scotland of 36.

Glenn Rogers

Born: 12.04.1977
ODIs: 4
Role: Bowler
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 22.50
Strike-Rate: 38.79
Bowl: Left-arm slow
Average: 35.75
Economy: 4.20

An attacking left-arm orthodox spinner, Lyons was born in Australia but has quickly fitted in and is now a key part of the Scottish attack after his debut in 2006. Keeps runs down to a minimum with a strict line and length, as well as picking up handy wickets. Missed some of the ICC Tri-Series in Mombasa after contracting typhoid, but should be fit for the World Cup.