Scotland pushed Australia hard in the T20 World Cup earlier this year – a win would have knocked England out of the tournament – and they had genuine belief that they could go ahead in the three-match ODI series in Edinburgh.
After Brandon McMullen scored 60 off 34 balls, the equation came down to Australia needing 87 from 39 deliveries and there was a real chance of an upset before Marcus Stoinis took the game away from them. With 90 to 0 against England at the close of play, it was the bitter difference between the Super Eight and going home.
Three games in four days with home advantage, and an Australian team with few names, gives Scotland a chance to get a first win over them – and they don’t just mean one win.
“I think we’re after a bit of blood this week, and we’re not just winning the game but winning the series,” left-arm spinner Mark Watt told Cricket Scotland’s website. “Definitely we can take inspiration from that match in St Lucia, but we also have a small point to confirm, as we all believe we should have won that match and progressed to the World Cup. We can say we got it close, but actually in the back of our heads we are disappointed that we didn’t win.”
All 15 players who were in the T20 World Cup are part of the squad for this series, but the new name for the Australians will be pace bowler Charlie Cassell who entered the international arena with the best figures in the ODI debut during his playing career. took 7 for 21 against Oman.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to share the field with world-class players,” said Scotland coach Doug Watson when the squad was announced. “They want to make big plays and compete, and push this Australian team. Our aim is to win this series. The first game is very important – if we can win that, it will stop the game. The next two games.”
Scotland succeeded Ireland in not being able to host Australia as planned due to financial problems. Australia last played a bilateral match against them in 2013 when Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh put on 246 for the first wicket. Current captain Richie Berrington was part of the Scotland team.
In 2018, Scotland had one of their most famous days when they beat England by six runs in Edinburgh but opportunities to face the best nations outside of world events are few and far between and they are looking for more.
“It worries us that we are not getting opportunities to play the big boys,” said Michael Leask. BBC Scotland. “Even with players like Bangladesh and West Indies, we don’t get opportunities to play with them. And we can take any opportunity, because if we get quality cricket, we get better.
“We would like them to come and play with us more often but we understand that sometimes it’s not possible. We want any game we can play with the big boys, but they have a tough schedule. This is our chance. It would be great. If the top guys get more exposure we punch above our weight most of the time and that’s low quality of the group we have.
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