- Scotland to play Australia in T20 World Cup in Caribbean
- The underdogs are quietly confident that they can get a result
- The Australians are undefeated and seem to have an ominous contact from the beginning
Michael Leask is under no illusions about the size of the task that awaits Scotland in St Lucia in the T20 World Cup, but he is ready to take the fight to an Australia team he considers the best in the world.
Scotland have performed admirably in Group B, batting with confidence before being eliminated against England and then defeating Oman and Namibia to leave qualification in their own hands.
But the final part of the equation will be the most difficult: facing and beating a team that can already call itself world Test and ODI champions and is looking to secure an unprecedented hat-trick of titles this month.
Scotland could still be defeated if England also fail to beat Namibia a few hours earlier, but Leask has no one but his own team.
“It’s a game that has to be won, it always has been,” he said. “I think we knew coming into this game that’s how it would be. It’s a great opportunity for us.
Michael Leask is under no illusions about the magnitude of the task that awaits Scotland in St Lucia, but he is ready to take the fight to an Australian team in the T20 World Cup.
The Australians are unbeaten in Group B and appear to have a sinister touch from the start (pictured, pacer Josh Hazlewood)
“We will still have to play our best cricket because we know Australia has a wonderful team.”
“They have all been in the IPL, they have all been everywhere and one day they will dominate the sides. They’re the best in the world for a reason as a collective unit, but we’re going to have to push them somehow.
“We know that to win the game we are going to have to hit extremely well and with the ball we are going to have to maintain our discipline and pitch very well against a star-studded lineup.”
“We’re going to need two or three guys to put on a show and basically take them head on.”
“I think it would be an incredibly proud moment for Scottish cricket if we progress to the Super Eights, but let’s not mince words.
‘It would be the most difficult path. We will have to bring out our best game and face them.”
One weapon at Scotland’s disposal is the astute spin of Mark Watt, whose trademark “25-yard” delivery delivered from a couple of strides behind the stumps caused a minor controversy against Oman.
He was denied a wicket with the innovative tactic, designed to catch the batsman off guard, when the umpire called “dead ball” to spare Khalid Kail.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa snared four wickets against Namibia and will be a key figure with the ball against Scotland.
There is nothing in the law to prevent bowling before the crease and a determined Watt is ready to try his luck against Australia.
“I can guarantee he will bowl more than one against Australia, let’s hope he takes some wickets with him,” Leask said.
He has taken a lot of land with him. “I think it’s up to the referee’s judgment at the end of the day and they made the right decision that day, but he’ll do it again.”
Play starts on Sunday at 10:30am AEDT.