ATTEMPTING to play cricket in Scotland in September always feels like a mission taken in hope rather than expectation. Weather permitting, however, international action will return to these shores this week for the first time in more than two years when Zimbabwe are the visitors for three T20i encounters.
It is the first time the Saltires have hosted a series since Papua New Guinea and Oman travelled to Aberdeen in August 2019 and is one imbued with layers of significance.
As well as the chance to simply play cricket again against a full member side in front of a home crowd at the Grange, the contests also serve as the first block in what is shaping up to be a bulging autumn fixture list.
Come the conclusion of this series next Sunday, Scotland will soon be packing a bag for Oman where they will be involved in one-day internationals as part of World Cricket League 2, the convoluted process that provides a route to the 2023 50-over World Cup.
The squad will then stay in the Middle East for the T20 World Cup, making the Zimbabwe series a useful test.
“In the back of our minds we know what’s coming up over the next six to eight weeks,” says captain Kyle Coetzer. “We’ve prepared for one-day cricket and we’ve prepared for T20 cricket and we’re ready for both. The mindset and the skills needed are fractionally different for the two formats so we’ve made sure to leave no stone unturned. So we’ve got half an eye on what’s to follow but our immediate focus is all on trying to seal a series win over Zimbabwe.”
There is an element of relief in Coetzer’s voice about the prospect of finally getting to lead the team out on home soil.
In Scotland’s previous encounter against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2018, it was the Africans who enjoyed the benefit of a partisan home crowd in an eventual tie. The Grange audience may not be as boisterous but Coetzer hopes they will lend their support when needed.
“It feels like forever since we last played an international at home so it will be good to get back out there again,” added the 37-year-old. “It’s going to be a tough challenge against Zimbabwe but I’m confident we’ll play well in this series.
“It doesn’t matter that we’ve not played much cricket over the last couple of years. We’ve prepared very well and I know once we get out there the boys will want to perform in front of a home crowd.
“Zimbabwe are a competitive and passionate cricket side, especially in front of their own fans in Bulawayo as they were in that game a few years ago. Now it’s our turn to have home advantage and hopefully we get a decent turn-out for the games at the Grange who I’m sure will give us noisy backing.
“Any cricket is good cricket at the moment given the long period without games. But it will be good to get some competitive T20 action under our belts before the World Cup and just sharpen up on the various skills you need to perform well in that format.”
Hosts Oman and Papua New Guinea will again provide the opposition in the series that begins on September 25.
The T20 World Cup may be just around the corner but Coetzer underlined that making a 50-over World Cup again would trump that achievement.
“The pinnacle for us at the moment is a 50-over World Cup. That’s the longest format that we can challenge in. Yes, everyone is excited by the T20 World Cup and that’s essentially growing the game all around the world. But the ODIs in Oman are massively important for us.
“The focus tends to turn towards the World Cup because of the nature of it but the Oman series is huge for us. We need to finish at the top end of that table. If we can win that competition it gets us to a 50-over World Cup and that would be some achievement for Scotland.”
Coetzer was named the ICC’s Associate Player of the Decade for his consistent batting at the top of the order but he jokes it is his bowling that gives him the greatest pleasure these days.
“The first thing Calum Macleod and I do when we turn up is talk about how we bowled at the weekend. I’ve bowled more overs this season than I have in my whole career and I’m 37 years old. That’s a shining light for me. First change against Zimbabwe? Well, we’ll maybe give that a miss! But my bowling tells me I’m in good nick and that gives me extra confidence.”
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