Scotland face a World Cup challenge they never planned for

Snapshot

A little over a week ago Scotland were just starting the build up toward their next expected tour - a League 2 ODI tri-series in Namibia in late March, when an eleventh-hour call-up to the T20 World Cup pulled them out of winter training and onto the plane to India. Were it not for the withdrawal of Bangladesh, Scotland's next T20 assignment would have been a sub-regional Qualifier in Copenhagen next summer, after a poor run in the shorter format saw them finish 4th in the recent European Finals and deposited at the bottom of the qualifying ladder for the first time.

The last minute reprieve catches Scotland in the midst of something of a rebuilding phase, having been blooding youngsters with mixed success in T20 in recent years, and under new direction too with head coach Owen Dawkins just a few weeks in the job. Yet the core of the side, under veteran skipper Richie Berrington, are no strangers to the big stage, with nine of the travelling party veterans of the 2021 run to the Super 12s. Scotland's unexpected inclusion for this edition has been described by some as a "free hit", but if so it's one the Scots will be dead set on sending over the rope.

The squad, and what it tells us

Richie Berrington (c), Matthew Cross (wk), George Munsey, Michael Jones, Tom Bruce, Brandon McMullen, Finlay McCreath, Michael Leask, Mark Watt, Chris Greaves, Safyaan Sharif, Bradley Currie, Oliver Davidson, Zainullah Ihsan, Bradley Wheal.

Travelling reserves: Jasper Davidson, Jack Jarvis, Non-travelling reserves: Mackenzie Jones, Chris McBride, Charlie Tear.

Given the circumstances, Scotland's hastily-assembled squad is partly a reflection of who's available at short notice, and unsurprisingly doesn't deviate too far from their established roster. Scott Currie's brief appearance on an England team sheet has made him ineligible, while Chris Sole's professional commitments continue to take priority. That said there's clear signs of Owen Dawkins' faith in some of the youngsters he'd worked with prior to taking on the top job, with Finlay McCreath, Oli Davidson and Zainullah Ihsan all making the fifteen -the latter pair as yet uncapped.

Left-arm spinner Davidson has pushed elder brother Jasper into the travelling reserves, likely in deference to conditions, bolstering a spin section led by fellow southpaw Mark Watt along with offie Michael Leask and legspinner Chis Greaves. Ihsan will be competing with Currie and Wheal and Sharif for a seamers slot, while the returning Michael Jones and former Black-cap Tom Bruce bolster the batting card.

The road to the World Cup

"Not the way we wanted to go to a World Cup" is how CEO Trudy Lindblade summed up Scotland's invitation as highest-ranked non-qualifier, while expressing some sympathy for Jersey, who notably finished above them at the European regional finals after besting the Scots in a last-ball, last-wicket thriller at Voorburg last summer. That result was a shock to some, but did reflect a Scottish side in something of a short-form slump.

The Scots have not played much T20 this cycle, and indeed they've not played a T20I outside of Europe since the last World Cup. They lost heavily to Australia in a three game home series shortly after that tournament (having stepped in to host in place of Ireland), and it would be nine months before they played another T20I. They shared honours with the Netherlands and Nepal in a trilateral series against the tacked onto a home CWC League 2 leg at Glasgow just ahead of the European Regional Qualifier last summer, where defeats at the hands of Italy and Jersey left them languishing in fourth place and facing relegation to Sub-regionals for the coming cycle. Events have offered them an escape route now, but too late for them to arrange any significant preparatory tours to turn their form around.

Last five T20Is: L-W-W-L-L

The way they play

Runs on the board is Scotland's first and best route to victory in the shortest format. Across their last 35 games they've won thirteen matches batting first, but just two chasing. The addition of Jones and Bruce to an already enviable top five only reinforces that strength, while the development of Leask and Watt into genuine batting threats down the order ensures even regular wickets may not contain them. They've yet to find a formula to reliably chase big scores however, and a lack of recent experience in the subcontinent may tell against them. Munsey and Leask - their big guns at the top and tail - both failed with the bat in the Netherlands, which was a big part of why they failed to make the top two at the qualifier. They will need them to fire in India if they're to make the cut this time round.

Who can bend a match in 10 balls

Given recent results Scotland need a difference-maker at the death, and newcomer Tom Bruce may be just the man for the job. The Central Districts skipper has been in fine form at four in the Super Smash, and is (Mark Watt's NPL fireworks notwithstanding) the only Scotland bat not coming into the tournament cold.

Scheduling

Three matches at Eden Gardens first up might be just what the doctor ordered for Scotland's undercooked batting card, but the seam attack may have reason to worry. Facing the Windies first up will bring back happy memories of '22 though, and should Scotland spring another ambush there they would be well placed to push for progression. If they are still in the game by the time they take on Nepal in their final group stage match at Mumbai the venue-switch could favour Nepal, but all told Scotland have a fairly forgiving itinerary.

Banana peel fixture

Scotland will know better than to take either Nepal or Italy lightly having lost two both last summer, but should Scotland stage an upset in either of their full-member fixtures one could easily imagine a rapid come-down to follow. Nepal especially, having the advantage of playing all their games at the same ground, are well-placed to lay an ambush for the Scots at Wankhede.

What a good World Cup looks like

While it's a success of sorts for Scotland to even be there, they've yet to hear confirmation that their elevation will even get them a bye to regional finals next cycle, so there's a potential long drop down to sub-regionals should they miss out on the Super-8s. That said anything but a winless run would be better than watching from home, and if it's a win over the Auld Enemy, well then so much the better.