The Thursday Read: Richie Berrington interview
Graeme Macpherson speaks to Scotland Men's skipper ahead of a busy summer for the national team
WELCOME to the first official edition from The Inside Edge, a twice-weekly newsletter straight to your inbox covering Scottish cricket at all levels.
We're delighted that we are marking the occasion by publishing an exclusive interview with Scotland Men’s captain Richie Berrington.
We’ll be back on Monday with our first roundup of the weekend’s domestic matches, including:
Men’s Eastern Premier League
Men’s Western Premiership One
Women’s Premier League
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Let’s get started...
In this first ever update from The Inside Edge:
Men’s national team off to Netherlands this weekend to resume ICC’s CWCL2
Netherlands and Nepal headed to Scotland in June
Back to Netherlands in July for final stage of T20 World Cup qualifiers
Team captain Berrington fit again after injury with no plans of retirement
THE ICC’s scattergun approach to fixture scheduling can often leave Associate member nations like Scotland enduring long spells at a time without a competitive fixture.
That frustration born out of extended inactivity, however, evolves into anticipation and excitement as the chance to return to meaningful matches draws ever closer.
Scotland’s men, fresh from a warm-up tour to Zimbabwe, will look to shake off the competitive rust this weekend at the start of what is shaping up to be a busy summer, both at home and abroad.
Doug Watson’s side haven’t played a competitive fixture since a Cricket World Cup League 2 (CWCL2) no result against Nepal back in early November but will now head into a congested period that will have consequences for their potential involvement at future World Cups across both white-ball formats.
It all unfolds this weekend in the Netherlands, a team that Scotland are going to get to know very well over the next months. It is the turn of the Dutch to host the latest edition of CWCL2, the competition pathway that could lead, eventually, to the 50-over World Cup to be held in late 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Scotland start on Sunday with a rearranged match against the United Arab Emirates, the first of five outings against the Gulf State side and the hosts in Amstelveen.
Then it is back home for another CWCL2 series in June against Nepal and the Netherlands – them again – at Forfarshire, followed immediately by a T20 tri-series with the same two countries hosted at Clydesdale.
From there it is onto the most pressing engagement of the summer, July’s T20 European regional qualifier back in the Netherlands, where they will play in a round-robin tournament against Netherlands, Guernsey, Italy and Jersey with two places up for grabs at next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
It is a hectic schedule across both formats of the game but, after six months without a competitive clash, captain Richie Berrington is raring to get going again.
“We’re all just really looking forward to getting back to it,” he said. “It’s been a longer lay-off over the winter than we would have liked but the guys have banked away a lot of good work over the winter, both skill work and physical work.
“Being over in Zimbabwe was a good chance to get back out in the middle again and back on the grass. That’s been really good prep for us for what’s ahead. It’s going to be a busy schedule but we’re looking forward to it.
“We know we’ve got a tough series coming up starting this weekend. But everyone’s raring to go ahead of what is going to be a really important summer.”
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Scotland haven’t featured at a 50-over World Cup since 2015 but came agonisingly close to ending that wait two years ago, beating ICC full members Ireland, the West Indies and Zimbabwe before losing to those pesky Dutch.
Their participation in the second edition of CWCL2, as defending champions, offers another opportunity to get to that big stage again, although the Scots are having to play catch-up with their fixtures after a winter on the sidelines.
“This is an important series coming up for us having not played competitively since last winter over in the USA,” added Berrington. “We know there’s a long way to go in this competition but we also know the importance of it. We want to get to the final qualifier again and then hopefully make that next 50-over World Cup.”
Scotland haven’t played at home since the visit of Australia to the Grange last September. And while the Netherlands and Nepal, respectfully, won’t quite hold the same appeal, Berrington is eagerly looking forward to those matches, especially the T20 games on his home pitch at Clydesdale.
“It’s good that we’ve got some home fixtures in the diary again. We had some good games at Forfs last year (against Oman and Namibia) and got a lot of good support there. And then we’ve got those extra T20 games too which will be really important leading into the T20 World Cup qualifier in Holland.
“I was trying to think of the last time Clydesdale hosted a series like this – it’s certainly been a while. But I know the club have put a lot of work into getting ready for this one. And for me to play there for Scotland will be pretty special. Hopefully we can have a good summer weather-wise as well which would certainly help!”
Berrington turned 38 last month but has no plans to retire any time soon. Having spent the winter nursing a finger injury, he made his return in the final tour game in Zimbabwe and is ready to play his part in the months ahead.
He added: “I’ve been doing a lot of rehab over the winter and it’s progressed really well. Getting out to Zimbabwe was a really good help in building myself back up, especially training outdoors again.
“I get asked a lot about my future plans. But for me nothing’s really changed. Obviously now I’m at the back end of my career but I’m still really enjoying what I do. Leading this team is an incredible honour and something I take a lot of pride in.
“I just want to keep improving wherever I can so I can keep taking this team forward. And the best way I can do that is by putting in good performances and winning games for Scotland.”
Scotland’s busy schedule:
Sunday 4th May: Scotland Men v UAE in Amstelveen in ICC’s Men’s CWCL2
Thursday 8th May: Scotland Men v UAE in Amstelveen in ICC’s Men’s CWCL2
Saturday 10th May: Scotland Men v Netherlands in Amstelveen in ICC’s Men’s CWCL2
Wednesday 14th May: Scotland Men v UAE in Utrecht in ICC’s Men’s CWCL2
Friday 16th May: Scotland Men v Netherlands in Utrecht in ICC’s Men’s CWCL2
Monday 2nd June: Scotland Men v Nepal at Forfarshire CC in ICC’s Men’s CWCL2
Friday 6th June: Scotland Men v Netherlands at Forfarshire CC in ICC’s Men’s CWCL2
Sunday 8th June: Scotland Men v Nepal at Forfarshire CC in ICC’s Men’s CWCL2
Thursday 12th June: Scotland Men v Netherlands in Forfarshire CC in ICC’s Men’s CWCL2
Sunday 15th June: Scotland Men v Netherlands at Clydesdale CC in Men’s T20 International Tri-Series
Tuesday 17th June: Scotland Men v Nepal at Clydesdale CC in Men’s T20 International Tri-Series
Thursday 19th June: Scotland Men v Netherlands at Clydesdale CC in Men’s T20 International Tri-Series
Friday 20th June: Scotland Men v Nepal at Clydesdale CC in Men’s T20 International Tri-Series
Saturday 4th to Friday 11th July: T20 World Cup qualifying round-robin versus Netherlands, Guernsey, Italy and Jersey in July in Netherlands
Extras:
Presidential application process closes on Sunday
The application process to become the next President of Cricket Scotland closes this Sunday (4th May). It is a ceremonial position which also involves chairing the Hall of Fame Appointment Panel.
Applications will be considered by the Cricket Scotland Nominations Committee with their recommendation being put forward for approval at the AGM, which will take place later this summer.
The governing body is also recruiting for roles on the Domestic Cricket Committee and Finance Risk and Audit Committee. These new Committees have been created following the governance overhaul that took place in 2023 and 2024.
To find out more, click HERE.
Domestic season gathers pace
The first round of matches in the Men’s Eastern Premier League and Men’s Western Premiership One are this Saturday, after a number of the regional leagues got the ball rolling last weekend.
2024 Eastern Premier and Grand Final champions Heriot’s are on the road to take on Meigle, while last season’s Western Premiership champions and beaten Grand Finalists Elston Clydesdale host Prestwick.
The Women’s Premier League begins on Sunday with 2024 champions Carlton at home to West of Scotland in the game of the day.
Pathways regional series gets going
Some of Scotland top under-15s cricketers will be in action this weekend.
Saturday: Girls East U15 v Caley Highlanders U15 @ Dollar.
Sunday: Boys East U15 v West U15 @ Fettes.
Monday: Boys West U15 v Caley Highlanders U15 @ Clydesdale.
Get in touch
If you have a news story, club update or any other interesting snippet related to any aspect of Scottish cricket which you think The Inside Edge should be reporting on, then please do get in touch. Email: david@tiecricket.com.
Or …
Do not refer to a cricket ground in Stockbridge as.'the Grange'. Look at any map of Edinburgh; The Grange is a district in the south side of the city )where the Grange Cricket Club first played).