This September, cricket fans will witness history as Scotland and Australia face off in their first-ever bilateral men’s T20I series in Edinburgh. Set to be played at The Grange on September 4, 6, and 7, this series marks Australia’s first tour of Scotland in 11 years.
The announcement of this series comes at a crucial time, as the teams prepare to clash in the T20 World Cup in St Lucia. This match will determine whether Scotland or England will join Australia in the Super Eight. Currently, Australia lead Group B with six points, followed by Scotland with five and England with three. For Scotland to advance, they must either beat Australia or maintain a superior net run-rate over England.
Originally, Australia were slated to play against Ireland in August and September. However, financial difficulties led Ireland to withdraw, prompting Cricket Australia to arrange the series with Scotland. Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade expressed excitement about the series, viewing it as an opportunity to elevate Scotland’s profile as a cricket destination.
“This tour is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Edinburgh as a prime cricketing venue,” Lindblade said. “What a way to end the year, having Australia coming to Scotland for three T20 internationals at The Grange. We’ve been through such incredibly difficult times, and this will be a celebration of cricket in Scotland. We hope everybody gets behind us, fills The Grange for all three days, and shows that cricket in Scotland is thriving.”
Historically, Scotland and Australia have played five ODIs, with Australia winning all. Their last bilateral fixture in 2013 saw Australia triumph by 200 runs, and Richie Berrington is the only player from that game still active.
This series comes at a pivotal moment for Cricket Scotland, which has faced challenges related to reports of institutional racism and sexism. Lindblade hopes the series will attract more tours by Full-Member countries, emphasizing the need for high-quality cricket to boost Scotland’s profile.
“We need to play high-quality cricket more often,” Lindblade added. “Top Associate members share our sentiment. This tour will not only showcase our on-field performance but also offer fans in Scotland the chance to see top-tier cricket. We aim to engage with other cricket boards, highlighting Scotland as an excellent place for both cricket and tourism.”
This series aims to promote cricket in Scotland and attract international attention, positioning Scotland as a prime destination for future cricket tours. It is expected to fill The Grange with local cricket fans, celebrating the sport’s resilience and progress in the region. The series also helps Australia prepare for their ODIs against England, scheduled to start on September 19 at Trent Bridge.
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