Mission accomplished
It wasn’t the result we wanted, getting beaten by Kenya in the final of the World Cricket League, but we'll return to Glasgow with our heads held high.
Five weeks ago, we left Scotland with one aim in mind - to qualify for the Twenty20 World Cup and claim the £128,000 prize money that went with it. We’ve done what we’ve set out to do, so it’s been a highly successful tour.
Looking back over the past week, beating Kenya last Sunday to make certain of our Twenty20 qualification was effectively our final. We were mentally tuned in, physically ready and desperate to win. Once we achieved that, the intensity dropped off a little as shown by our last two results.
At this level, the mental side of the game is more important that the physical. We all have the skills and fitness to compete against top-class cricketers, but to be able to mentally prepare yourself for each game, no matter what is riding on the outcome, is another skill altogether.
As part-time cricketers, it's not something that we work on or are coached on, but it's an aspect of our game we can improve. I can’t take anything away from the Kenyans though - they are solid, without being spectacular, in every department. Their coach, Roger Harper, has drilled them into an efficient unit
At the start of the tournament I said the side with the most disciplined bowling attack would win this competition and we only bowled 30 extras, 23 fewer than second best Kenya. Unfortunately we didn’t have enough runs on the board on the final for our bowlers to defend, but our first three games against Ireland, Canada and Holland went right to the wire and if we had been wayward with the ball, we would have lost all three.
My personal highlight was the euphoria in the dressing room after our last-gasp victory over Holland. While it didn’t guarantee us a place in the Twenty20 World Cup, it was sheer relief of being down and out on the canvas but getting up again to land a knockout punch from nowhere.
The win showed that we’re a team with plenty of guts and character with a never say die attitude. To celebrate with a few beers and to sing the Flower of Scotland was probably the highlight of my Scotland career thus far.
Now’s it time to rest and regroup for the ultimate challenge of facing Australia in the World Cup on March 14. My parents will be travelling from Rockhampton in Queensland to be there. Rockhampton is a small town of around 60,000, but I know that the majority of them are supporting Scotland.
Win the toss, put the Aussies in the bat on a wet wicket, roll them for 120 and then chase them down. It’s what dreams are made of. Never count us out.
Congratulations on a job well done Paul. You guys earned yourself another exciting tour of cricket and a nice little earner for Cricket Scotland so we can't grumble. It would have been nice to win the thing but lets not be too greedy.
By the way, why did the captain continue with Lyons and bring on Brown instead of re-introducing yourself and Blain? The openers seemed to find the two of you tough going at the start of the innings.
Complain about this postHoffy,
You and the boys have done the whole nation proud! All the games in the WCL made for compulsive internet viewing. Unlucky in the final but big congrats for getting to the World 20/20 Championships! Roll on the World Cup and hopefully you can cause an upset! `MON SCOTLAND!!
Complain about this postWell done guys. I hope you enjoy the experience of the world cup. I for one wouldn't mind a shock result against the Aussies. Good luck!
Complain about this postDear Paul Hoffmann
Complain about this postYou are going to roll Australia out for 120? If that happenes i'll eat my hat, even if its the worse pitch ever seen in international cricket Australia will still make 275 against your bowling attack.
Paul
p.s Keep dreaming........
It was a shame regarding the final, but it was an excellent performance throughout the tournament to get qualification to the 2020. The Kenya side has the chance to upset sides in the World Cup so it's no disgrace to be beaten by them. I'd would like to see Scotland win at least one in the World Cup, Holland being the best bet to build on this success, but congrats to the whole team. It's been a good week with England & Scotland both in finals and you don't get to say that very often!
Complain about this postargh rubbish!!!!! u cant say that Scotland relaxed at the final coz the money was already in the pocket and the 20/20. Scotland was outclassed in every department, Scoring 155 on a pitch full of runs with the runrate at just over 3. I know Scotland really wanted the trophy just as bad as kenya.......kenya should play in Scotland to see where both teams are.
Complain about this postWell done mate! The Kenyans are indeed very efficient, though not flamboyant.
I thought the match against Holland was unbelievable. As an Englishman in Holland, I was always going to be rooting for them, but you can't begrudge the outcome... You made your point about the disciple of the bowling unit as a deciding factor in the tournament in that one match alone.
Keep you head up during the WC (both of them)... you earned your places there!
Complain about this post120 for Aus on a wet wicket? Bit generous there ;-)
First off a very big well done for a truly superb team effort, echoed i saw by Craig Wright too.
I cannot agree more about the significant extras you mention, Paul. Something i have been talking baout fr a couple of years now.
The importance of them cannot be understated and you effectively won 3 tight games by virtue of and even against the might of SA and Aus it still makes a difference and makes teams work for their runs. Very disciplined indeed.
I can identify with the mental side of things. It isn't easy to perform well when you have already mentally won. Kenya were expected to reach the final and nowt else would have been good enough but we were probably 3rd favourites.
They are probably better than us but be interesting to play a 3 or 4 match series here sometime as i think we can beat them.
Have you noticed the way the WC fixtures have come out btw?
Scotland, Ireland and England do not play on the same day once!! What werew the odds on that!?
We are live on main SS1 in every game so all eyes will be firmly focussed on us.
Whilst it would be nice to upset the odds against 2 of the giants of the game, the game against the Dutch is arguably our most important, more so now they are ranked 2, and a genuine chance to win a first game in the WC finals.
A word for the Irish too who play the weakest top side, Zim. You CAN beat them so give it some!
Have a great break and enjoy the WC
Complain about this postI asked this elsewhere but can i c&p and ask again:
Can i ask about Twenty20 and what you guys as a unit know about it first hand? I know you are due to play in July in Belfast in the 1st European Twenty20 Championships but will that be a first for the team?
It is a very very different game and oddly enough the best side in England are not a particularly good side generally in recent seasons, Leics.
You play Leics, who've won the Twenty20 Cup twice already, in the 2nd ECB game and i wondered if it would be a good idea to ask them for tips on how it's done properly.
Nobody knows how better than Maddy, Snape, Nixon et al.
I know their strength is defending low totals.
Complain about this postThey make a score which seems 40-50 short but rarely turns out that way.
Btw
Do you always go in-off with the white at pool :-))
Complain about this postBlame Mike Stanger for letting all and sundry know that
Extras? This is what u have to come up with to show the strength of the Scottish bowlers over kenya?....whatever happened to line and length.... Last gap victories against Ireland, Canada and Holland and loosing to Bermuda isnt something to be overly proud of....The way kenya twice rolled over u guys i dont see an upset happening over australia!!! but as u said dreams!!!
Complain about this postWell done on Scotland's recent achievments and hope you really stick it to the Convicts on March 14.
Complain about this postT suji
Engage the brain first mate
Extras are a large part, as is all elements of the game, it's called discipline and obviously if our line and length was no good then it would have made no difference. Fact is it did. Also an acknowledged fact that we performed well in all departments in Kenya.
That is the sign of a side which is well coached, prepared and makes it hard for the opposition and we do that. We lost increasingly important tosses against Ireland, Canada and especially Holland with rain around but we still won. We would have cantered those last 2 if we had won the toss.
If you look at the official stats of the WCL you can see our 5 main bowlers did equally as well and actually better as a team. The worst of them took 5 wickets.
Your guy Ongando did very well (and Variaya is good too) but don't forget that Canada tried to get the nigh on impossible against you guys by chasing 251 in 30 overs rather than a regulation but hollow win in 50 and massive credit to the Canadians for trying. Scorecards don't always tell the truth.
Yes you beat us but we beat you in your own backyard comfortably.
We'll see when the next one is in Ireland, Scotland or wherever and see how you get on. Then well see about Kenya. They're for sure crap at 4 day cricket so how much progress have you made or is it all just based on 1 dayers in Kenya itself!?!?
These comps are all about on the day and on another day. Kenya were deserved winners but still lost to both Scotland and Canada very easily in both cases AND on home soil and a number of games during the Tri series and WCL both those teams were hardly fighting fit!!!
If i were you i would worry about your own team first. You have gone backwards since 2003 and the only progress you have made since has still barely put you back were you where 4 years ago if that.
You had a chance to make strides in the bigger game and blew it.
Complain about this postPaul Hoffman, Scotland did well to reach the final and they did beat Kenya the first time around but don't get too carried away. Kenya, with all due respect to the other teams, are a notch or two above the rest and, when it mattered, they came good and raised their game, just as they did in the last world cup. To say that beating them in the group games was 'your final' shows a lack of belief in the team. If you had written that you had learned from the thrashing you received in the final it would be a more heartening thing for your supporters to hear.
Complain about this postT Suji
Your nation was only able to beat Scotland last month by virtue of some poorly cooked meals and even then the margin was just 7 runs. Last week Scotland managed to give you a fright with a convincing victory.
Perhaps if you had taken your tiime to read what Sandy said you would realise he was merely pronouncing the accuracy of our bowlers and in no way was taking anything away from Kenya's fine achievement.
Complain about this postPaul (post4) = yet another over-competitive Aussie who can't see the tongue-in-cheek humour at the end of the article? I love watching the Aussies play as they are on a different level, but hate listening to them talk about the game. Good luck to Scotland.
Complain about this posthahaha, ok look here sandy spit Kenya is on the verge of full recovery. we have a young outfit compared to ur old guards.Beating Canada twice in their own backyard and beating Bermuda easily thrice is an achievement.We broke our personal record of highest run total of 328 against that mediocre bowling. Scotland will surely be the whipping boys in WI.The first team to leave WI.Good luck to Ireland hahaha!!
Complain about this postJust well done.....
Great you have had a succesful tour.
Keep it up.....
...........
Unfortunately have not seen Scotland play
since Copenhagen.
Hoping the rest of 2007 goes well for everyone
and the Spirit of Cricket wins
Ian
Umps MCC and Middlesex CCL
Complain about this postJust watching England's remarkably painful progress on the way to victory with an Aussie mate and a bowl of Tasmanian Black mussels in downtown Kuala Lumpur. Very pleasant.
Complain about this postThis is just exibition stuff from England!!!!! We are looking like we are going to take a 1-0 lead im the Finals!!!1
Complain about this postCollingwood is not a Geordie!!!!!! You numb southerner.
Complain about this postTo Sugi
"hahaha, ok look here sandy spit Kenya is on the verge of full recovery. we have a young outfit compared to ur old guards."
Don't make me laugh! you've got guys in your team that make Glen McGrath look like a wee laddie!
We've got pleanty of young lads coming through the ranks. Think your just gloating over your win, come over to Scotland and play us, Bangladesh couldn't beat us at home a couple of years back and they're more of an accomplished team that Kenya plus we've improved ten fold since then. Anyway, enough of this Sugi, we should all be getting behind the associate nations at the World Cup and hope that one of us causes an upset! Good luck to Kenya
Complain about this postPaul,
Thats 20 too many, and i bet you scored the winning runs eh.......
Congrats on what has been accomplished already now to win the WC..
Complain about this postCraig, please stop trying to blame food etc. for not winning the final. The fact is that Kenya is a better team than Scotland. Mr Suji is getting a little carried away but if it's the T. Suji I think it is he has a point having recently been a Kenyan International cricketer. I agree with you both that it would be interesting and possibly great cricket if Kenya could tour UK and play some games against Scotland, Ireland and some county teams. Unfortunately, Kenyan Cricket isn't flush with cash. However, under the new management set-up and with the proceeds from this tournament they are now in a much more sound financial state than when they reached the World ODI semis in S. Africa. A reasonable run in the WI, reaching the 2nd round should be possible, will be a big help too. It's great to see countries like these and the others that took part in the Nairobi tournament competing together and learning how to compete with the 'big boys'. If possible the competition should be repeated, possibly every 2 years, so these teams can hone their talents and improve.
Complain about this postHi Sandy
Complain about this postWe play some Twenty20 style of cricket between clubs in Scotland. In the West of Scotland it's called the Rowan Cup while in the East it's the Masterton Cup I think.
Any tips we can get off the likes of Snape and Maddy would be greatly received. My theory is to smash it with the bat and bowl yorkers and slower balls when bowling and hope for the best.
Kenya deserved their victory for sure. Steve Tikolo and Ravi Shah are class players, while Ondongo and Tom Odoya bowl good areas and nip it about a bit. Hopefully we can play them in Scotland one day in the future.
Now it's a few days rest in Scotland before the WC preparations. Looking forward to not taking anti diarrhoea tablets every 3 hours.
Hi Paul
I wasn't aware of the Rowan and Masterton Cups at all. Do they start as 50 overs but get reduced to 20 because of the rain anyway :-)
It's going to be great out in SA for you guys playing Twenty20 capturing all the regular cricket fans plus others who don't usually watch. Sponsorship must be very easy to come by now without worries too.
Down South it seems slow or medium pacers fair best on a good batting track but i know Snape always mixes his bowlers about no matter what the situ'. One of those annoying medium pacers such as a Gooch or Ealham do well seemingly.
It's going to be tough for quickies like yourself but if you have variation it must be a benefit.
Glad to hear you don't need any 'medication' now!
@ Colonial Lad
Complain about this postIt occured to me but i dismissed that it could be THE Tony Suji from his less than professional view of things here. Kenya is the best of the rest but losing at home to Canada and Scotland shows that there is a very little to choose between them. You are not in a strong WC group so i'd expect Kenya to at least make some waves to some extent.
Craig wasn't making excuses of the food or diluted water or anything else. It was merely a fact that it didn't help especially given it was our first venture there.
We are probably grateful mind you as it meant that Majid Haq opened and look how he did!
Just seen this link below. A fair reflection overall.
Must confess though, and i'm obviously not knocking your or anyone elses performances, Paul, but for Majid Haq not to be named as our success is astonishing imo.
Complain about this posthttp://content-uk.cricinfo.com/worldcricketleague/content/story/279633.html
Hi Paul, and congrats on qualifying for the Twenty20 tournament. Just a quick random question - is there a player in the Scottish squad called Drummond? A mate of that name reckons he has a distant cousin in the World Cup squad, and we're not sure whether to believe him!
Complain about this postQuick question to Sandy, Paul and a few others, including some of the Irish posters on another link. In planning for this tournament did the teams consider whether the altitude of Nairobi would be a factor? Especially in physical fitness and endurance of the players and the way the ball may swing (or not) through the air? Certainly the Irish, arriving very soon before they played their first game were not giving themselves any chance to acclimate to the thinner air.
Complain about this post@ Adam K
Chances are Drummond is not the last name you are after if it's a distant cousin?
Here's the provisional squad if it helps mate:
# Craig Wright (C)
# John Blain
# Dougie Brown
# Gavin Hamilton
# Majid Haq
# Paul Hoffmann
# Dougie Lockhart
# Ross Lyons
# Neil McCallum
# Dewald Nel
# Navdeep Poonia
# Glenn Rogers
# Colin Smith
# Ryan Watson
# Fraser Watts
# Kyle Coetzer
# Gordon Goudie
# Andrew Hislop
# Giles Holmes
# Rana Hussain
# Neil MacRae
# Gavin McIntyre
# Umair Mohammed
# Stuart Murray
# Qasim Shiekh
# Simon Smith
# Ian Stanger
@ Colonial Lad.
Complain about this postI'm not at all qualified to answer and Paul would obviously know the facts but apparently in the opening game (Tri series i think) the ball sailed for 6 over Ross Lyons head as he misjudged it because of the altitude. Think only the reality of the conditions and playing in them can help on that.
Totally agree that no matter where you have prepared you need to arrive earlier in the location you are playing and Ireland imo made an error there.
Having said that they could easily have won the WCL.
Well done. Hope you keep the form up at the world cup. I along with six others from Aberdeen will be in St. Kitts supporting the team. Look forward to interesting matches.
Complain about this postHi Colonial Lad
Complain about this postWe arrived in Nairobi on the Friday before our game against Ireland on Tuesday. We played Tanzania on the Saturday and trained other days. We were well prepared. The altitude didn't pose a problem for us. Mombasa was good preparation. We got rid of all our tummy bugs before arriving in Nairobi!
From all the comments i am reading concerning who is the better Cricket team btween kenya and Scotland there is clearly alot of tension that i think should be used in turning this confrontation into an 'ashes' type rivalry with annual ODI series and perhaps even a few 20-20 matches to boot. i propose that scotland host the ist series in between the WC and the 20-20 world championships in S.A
Complain about this postPaul. Not bad prep but you could give yourselves a couple more days in the future. The body needs 5-7 days to produce enough red blood cells to compensate for the altitude. However, playing Ireland who had no acclimation at all is the next best thing. The weather was a bit untypical for Nairobi in Jan/Feb. Traditionally it's hot and dry. How did the ball move compard with Scotland or even Mombasa?
I'm smiling at the comment that you got rid of your tummy bugs in Mombasa, usually that's where we get them.
Good luck in WI. If England can pull themselves together to beat the Aussies who knows what can happen.
Complain about this postTop effort by all Paul and it's great to see the two "Yorkies", Blain and Hamilton, doing so well.
Complain about this postScotland only need one win against a full member to join the ICC ODI rankings with the 10 full nations and Kenya.......provided their winning percentage is over 60% against other associates.Well i dont see any upset in the world cup or in the near future for the WCL loosers.Kenya yeaaaaaaaah!!!!!
Complain about this postCan this drinnen shut his mouth..."we only came to kenya with two aims, first to qualify for the 20/20 and also inflict defeat on the host nation" bla bla bla........ it seems they feared Kenya, bragging on their win against us after their heavy defeats against us.PLAY SECOND FIDDLE dammit trophyless Scots.U cant be counted as rivals to mighty Kenya. Good luck to Ireland in the intercontinental final!!!!!!!!!
Complain about this postCan this drinnen shut his mouth..."we only came to kenya with two aims, first to qualify for the 20/20 and also inflict defeat on the host nation" bla bla bla........ it seems they feared Kenya, bragging on their win against us after their heavy defeats against us.PLAY SECOND FIDDLE dammit trophyless Scots.U cant be counted as rivals to mighty Kenya. Good luck to Ireland in the intercontinental final!!!!!!!!!
Complain about this postCan this drinnen shut his mouth..."we only came to kenya with two aims, first to qualify for the 20/20 and also inflict defeat on the host nation" bla bla bla........ it seems they feared Kenya, bragging on their win against us after their heavy defeats against us.PLAY SECOND FIDDLE dammit trophyless Scots.U cant be counted as rivals to mighty Kenya. Good luck to Ireland in the intercontinental final!!!!!!!!!
Complain about this postT suji
The fingers type but mister brain has long since departed.
Best that another Kenya comes and posts here just to drown out your narrow-minded and frankly baffling bitterness.
Why do you go on about us so much??
Complain about this postDo you fear us?? I think you do.
It was nice to see Scotland doing well in the World cricket league though your team lost in the finals it was an good effort but it looks a bit of an daunting task for your team in the Worldcup as Aussies and Southafricans are in your group.
Anyhow on an lighter side I wanted to ask Hoffmann about which team your players were supporting in the England tour of Australia as I know that Brown and Hamilton have played for England!
Complain about this postAnother point I wanted to bring it to notice is in the 97 sharjah trophy I remember Dougie Brown getting some swing with the white new ball and dismissing Lara L.B.W and few other decent batsmen.So I wanted to ask Paul Hoffmann will the Scots use this tactic of opening the bowling with Brown against Hayden who is an big L.B.W candidate (though rarely given out in that fashion) and also against Gilchrist as I clearly remember Brown troubling lefthanders with his late swing.
Complain about this postSorry I didnot add Greame Smith who was an bunny of Hoggard in the 2005 England tour of Southafrica as he kept getting out to Hoggard's late swing in tests as well as even onedayers by playing across the line.
Complain about this postWhat sort of blog is this? because I had typed an article of Lara and others getting out to Brown's late swing in the 97 sharjah trophy because of which I had had said he can be used as an new ball bowler against Gilchrist and Hayden. THAT SMITH THING WAS AN CONTINUITY OF IT WHERE HAS THAT ORIGINAL ARTICLE GONE!!!!!
Complain about this postWhat sort of mind boggling blog is this? because I had clearly typed an article of Brown getting Lara and others L.B.W with his late swing in the 97 sharjah trophy that is why I had said Brown can be used as an new ball bowler against Gilchrist and Hayden.THAT SMITH THING WAS AN CONTIUITY OF THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE I HAD TYPED BUT WHERE HAS THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE GONE!!!!!
Complain about this postWhat sort of mind boggling thread is this because I had clearly typed an article of Brown getting Lara L.B.W and others as well out with his late swing in the 97 sharjah trophy that is why I had said he can be used as an new ball bowler against Gilchrist and Hayden.THAT SMITH THING WAS AN CONTINUATION OF THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE BUT WHERE HAS THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE GONE!!!!!
Complain about this postSo at last that original article came! but why did it take hours together to come can anyone explain!
Complain about this postIts about time americans will change baseball to cricket. As British International student in Florida I can only dream of a good Cricket team in my university...
Complain about this post