Cricket: Watson chasing landmark if picked against England

QUIETLY and efficiently Ryan Watson has slipped into the Scottish cricketing record books and, if selected to face England at citylets Grange on Saturday, could become the first home batsman to pass 5,000 runs at international level.

The adopted Scot – he was born in Zimbabwe – is now just 38 short of the milestone with an aggregate of 4,962 having earlier this season overtaken the 4,831 run haul of Iain Philip (ex-Stenhousemuir).

Appropriately, Watson's record run came in a Scotland victory at Leicestershire in the opening Clydesdale Bank pro-40 series match and, since then, he has continued to be a dogged competitor with a couple of scores of 24 and another of 48 in that competition.

A big total against England, if he is named in the team tomorrow, would surely be the icing on the cake and Watson admits it is a special fixture.

"I played against England two years ago in Edinburgh and there was a tremendous atmosphere as we put together a reasonable total of 156-9 before rain washed out their innings almost as soon as it started (10-0) and the match was abandoned.

"The fact this game is taking place on a Saturday with league games held over by 24 hours could make it even more special. Of course, we welcome the corporate spectators and this will be a great opportunity for Cricket Scotland to generate much needed cash.

"But the rank-and-file players from around the country have a chance to get along in a way that is possibly beyond them in midweek or when their clubs are in action at the same time as a Scotland game and that has to be good."

Typically, Watson had no idea of his record in focusing more on the future.

"England are coming off the back of a Twenty20 World Cup victory and going into a major one day series and hopefully the strong side they are sending up will bring the best out of a Scotland team in a bit of transition.

"Compared with not so long ago there maybe aren't such high quality players around from 1-11 in the line-up at the moment. To balance that, the top 22 players in the country are much better creating extra competition to force standards up and the victory over Netherlands at the weekend to go top of the Inter-Continental Cup table was a big boost to everyone."

Watson was prepared to allow himself a backward glance at some favourite memories during his 188 appearances which includes an unbeaten 103 not out – the fastest century in one day cricket – when Somerset were beaten at Raeburn Place back in 2003 just after Saltires had debuted in the old totesport league.

"That was a memorable innings but right up there, too, was the 123 not out scored against Canada in Nairobi when we were chasing 293 to win in 40 degree heat.

"Also getting 94 when Scotland defeated Ireland at Clontarf in 2005 to go to the World Cup as the top ICC associate country was something to be proud of."

Hopefully there are plenty more runs for the 34-year-old to gather and significantly an innings of 84 as Forfarshire defeated Greenock on Saturday was his highest of the season, so far, in the Scottish Premiership.

The bowling attack of Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom and Graham Swann, amongst others, will obviously be fare more formidable.

Nevertheless, the experience of Watson could be a useful asset if Scotland are to be competitive against opponents just a few days away from the start of a one day series against Australia.

England squad: Andrew Strauss (Middlesex), captain, James Anderson (Lancashire), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Craig Kieswetter (Somerset), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Luke Wright (Sussex), Michael Yardy (Sussex).