On the day Scotland announced their squad for the forthcoming T20 World Cup, Scotland head coach Craig Wallace spoke to CRICKETher about the long-awaited return of a certain Kirstie Gordon – who is available for selection for Scotland for the first time since 2017.
Back in February, Raf interviewed Kirstie for The Observer (paywalled link); the Blaze captain explained that a conversation with Craig had been instrumental in her decision to return to her home nation. So we got his side of the story!
He recalled: “The last time I was in Nottingham, seeing Kathryn and Sarah [Bryce], I messaged Kirstie saying, ‘shall we have a little catch-up?’
“I tried not to be too intense. We had a drink. I literally said, ‘what is your plan?’ And I managed to outline the next year and a half to her.
“And I could see in her eyes, she was like, ‘wow, I want to do that’. I left that meeting quite happy!”
We asked exactly what he said to persuade Kirstie that the time was right to return. “It’s the team,” he said. “It’s how well we’re playing, how well we’re acting as human beings and as people. For me that was the easiest sell – we are going to this World Cup, we are going hopefully to many more World Cups, and we will keep improving and playing a brand of cricket that I can be proud of, that she wants to be part of.
“It’s not the team it was when she made her debut – it’s so much bigger and better than that,” he added.
He apparently messaged Kirstie when the England squad was released to check in, concerned that there might be doubt or regret bubbling up. “But there was literally nothing. She just said, ‘I cannot wait to get started’.”
As for how Kirstie is feeling about facing her old team, England, at Headingley on 20 June?
“She’ll be excited to take them on. That day will be me trying to calm her down, more than anything! And try and make sure that we get the best out of her.”
A fired-up Kirstie Gordon? It should be a cracker of a match!
The full Scotland World Cup squad is below:
- Kathryn Bryce (captain) – Blaze
- Chloe Abel – Gunnersbury / New Town
- Olivia Bell – Lancashire
- Sarah Bryce – Blaze
- Darcey Carter – Lancashire
- Priyanaz Chatterji – Surrey
- Gabriella Fontenla – Yorkshire Academy
- Katherine Fraser – Durham
- Kirstie Gordon – Blaze
- Ailsa Lister – Lancashire
- Maisie Maceira – Carlton
- Abtaha Maqsood – Essex
- Megan McColl – Glamorgan
- Rachel Slater – Yorkshire
- Pippa Sproul – Hampshire