With 2007 witnessing a Scotland side compete in a World Cup in the West Indies and a World Twenty20 Championship in South Africa, these are indeed exciting and heady times for the country’s cricketers. 

But the fun doesn’t stop there, as just last month it was announced that the national team shall be facing a new challenge in the shape of the country’s oldest and greatest rival.

Yes, in August 2008, England, complete with Freddie, KP and Monty ‘The Sikh of Tweak’ Panesar, will be coming to Edinburgh to face off against the Scots for the first time in a One Day International.

But that's not all. Quite possibly an even more monstrous task will unfold as they also line-up against five time World Cup semi-finalists New Zealand and 2007 surprise package Ireland in a triangular ODI series in July.

So the team, and its fans, are no doubt looking forward to 2008 because, in all honesty, 2007 has not been a year to shout about for the side, despite their adventures around the cricketing globe. 

After much optimism going into the World Cup in March, heavy defeats by Australia and South Africa and a slump against the Netherlands sent the Scots packing without winning a game, before trudging through an indifferent summer where they only intermittently impressed at both domestic and international level.

They are also currently caught in mid-wicket without a full-time Head Coach, ever since Australian Peter Drinnen stood down in July amidst a sporting smoke-screen of controversy.

So, with such stiff challenges ahead, the question is, can Scotland measure up and pull off a shock result against the Auld Enemy?

The key, ironically, may lie in identifying the differences in standard between the two nations, and then looking at how the model of the professional English game can help to assist development of the game north of the border. 

Cricket nowadays is becoming an ever more competitive and challenging sport.  Fitness, dedication and a strong mentality are just a few of many crucial traits the modern cricketer must have.

So, for Scotland to compete on the global stage, and to last the pace against England, a step-up is necessary.  And while professionalism may not be an option for what is a minority sport, adopting a more professional approach to the game is certainly a good start.  

Scotland’s Zimbabwe born and South Africa raised national captain Ryan Watson whole-heartedly agreed with such an approach, as In The Winning Zone found out when he took some time out from his day-job at the Caledonian Brewery to speak to us.

But how much of a gap does he feel there is between his team and the English?

“It is hard to measure in cricketing terms,” he told us, his South African accent over-riding any Scottish twangs that may creep through.  “In all aspects they are a long way ahead.  In terms of experience as a team they are ahead of us.  They get more opportunities to work on their game each day.  It is their livelihood, their career.  They can work on their fitness or their fielding on a daily basis.”

Watson is correct to say the England team is ahead of Scotland.  There is no doubting that.  But the point that he makes also suggests that in terms of individual talent or athletic ability, there is no reason to suggest why any England player should be genetically better than a Scottish one.  But by means of their career paths, becoming full professionals obviously means that the English players have enjoyed a much swifter and more intense fast track to becoming world class cricketers.

“Unfortunately we don’t get these kinds of opportunities,” continued Watson.  “We rely on more guys contributing on a certain day or someone turning in a special performance to win matches.  I think that’s where the difference lies.  We can have our day, but they are obviously far more consistent because they are always training and working.”

The key then, according to the national captain, is attitude.  He and his boys may not be able to commit their lives to cricket in the same way as their professional counterparts, but the time that they do spend in the sport must be of the highest quality. 

“I think there is a culture in the team at the moment that the guys are expected to work a little harder, because there is nothing worse than turning up and getting absolutely hammered every week, either against county teams or international teams.  The guys take a lot of pride in their performance and I think that’s the most crucial aspect, being competitive.”

There are many areas in which the players are aspiring to improve, says Watson.  He knows that at this level, the smallest fraction of a percentage can be the difference between a win and a loss.  And in cricket especially, a sharper body contributes to a sharper game.

“In the last four or five years there has been a massive onus on fitness.  And the improvement that has been made is absolutely phenomenal.  Agility, fitness, being able to run your runs quickly and chase quickly is so important.  The game has moved along at such a pace that fitness has become crucial.

“And that is something we address.  Guys are physically fitter for Scotland than they were five years ago, definitely.  And because you are playing that much more cricket, there are more demands on the body.  Before, when you played five or six games in a season, you got away with it, but I think last year we played about 35 ODIs.”

But physical condition is only half the battle.  In fact, according to Watson, it is actually less than half.  Above all, psychological strength is at the crux of every good cricketer’s game.

“If I’m honest with you, cricket is 60% mental and 40% physical.  You can have guys who are as talented as they come, brilliant in the nets, brilliant in training, but when it comes to big days they don’t perform.  It is a mental thing.”

This is an area he feels his team must address quickly, especially when facing opposition bowlers.

“I don’t know why but I think Scotland’s batsmen are a little bit slow in terms of mental development.  In terms of batters, you only get one opportunity.  You’ve got one chance, and if you blow it, you’re out.  It is easier for bowlers; they develop a lot quicker, as they tend to have a little bit more breathing space.

So how would he solve that problem? 

“I think batters have got to learn to know their own games.  If you know your role and your own game well enough, you know where you can score your runs and when you should be looking to score them.  I think that eliminates 50% of the problem.  I think that’s where a good coach comes in handy – he can highlight these things and point you in the right direction.”

Ah, the missing link in the Scotland chain at present.  A team is never really a team without a coach.  Where would Manchester United be without Sir Alex, Rangers without Walter Smith?  A coach can often be the difference between evenly matched sides, or even unevenly matched ones for that matter.  The person who can motivate or prepare his team that little bit better can add immeasurable toughness to a team.

So the role of the new coach, whoever he may be, is of fundamental importance.  And Watson is aware that whoever steps into the frame is not in for an easy time of it.

“The coach of Scotland is a tough job.  He doesn’t get access to the players all the time.  The new coach will be expected to go out and do one-to-one work with individuals, to go out there and throw balls and hit balls and spend time with guys on their own patch.  So he will need to drive to Glasgow and Aberdeen, because logistically it is impossible to get everyone together in terms of where we are in the country.  And also with guys working it is impossible to get a suitable time.

“It’s a tough gig, but someone who is young and enthusiastic is quite key, who is trying to make their mark on the coaching world.  That’s what we’re looking for.  Someone who can spend a lot of time with the guys can make a big difference to them mentally.”

The goal, of course, is catching up with England, and all the other leading nations.  But keeping up with the Joneses, and the Flintoffs and the Pietersons for that matter, will not be an easy task for Cricket in Scotland.  The current squad are working hard and are certainly making steps in the right direction, but the future lies in the players of tomorrow. 

Professionalism may or may not come about in Scotland, but the best way in which to cement an assured future for cricket is through youngsters who may not have even picked up a bat and ball yet.

Watson, who played to a high level of schoolboy cricket in his homeland South Africa, is more aware than most how important learning key skills in the developmental years is. 

It is not unusual for South African schools to field up to ten cricket teams at each age-group level.  And of course, this is reflected in the quality of the national side.  Players must be competitive from the outset, and fight hard to get a chance of playing for their country.  The lack of depth in the game in Scotland means this is not an option.

“I think we are a long way off in terms of our skill development, but I think we could certainly be a lot more competitive.  All talented kids are pretty good at most core sports at a young age, and if you can attract some of those kids to cricket I think that would help the long term future of the game.”

RO

Copyright In The Winning Zone, MMVII, All Rights Reserved