Matthew Cross on Scotland's T20 WC opener against England
Matthew Cross on Scotland's T20 WC opener against England
03/06/2024
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
03/06/2024
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
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SportTranscript
00:00 Hi, Rory with the Press Association.
00:03 Matthew, I guess this date has been circled in the calendar for a long time now.
00:09 How's the feeling around the squad now that it's here?
00:12 Yeah, I think it's a really exciting opportunity for us as an associated nation to get to play England.
00:17 Although we're very close to England, we don't seem to play them very often,
00:21 but we've got great memories from the last time we played them.
00:24 So to get to play them at a World Cup is pretty special.
00:27 Yeah, as you say, it's the first T20 for Scotland.
00:30 Incredible.
00:31 It is incredible. What are your thoughts on that?
00:34 You're just over the road and you can't get a gig.
00:36 Yeah, I'm waiting for the invitation to Lourdes to go and play them,
00:39 so hopefully on the back of this maybe we'll get one.
00:42 But look, it's an awesome opportunity for our guys
00:44 and really a chance for us to go out and show what we're all about.
00:47 And obviously 2018, you mentioned that was the last time you played in any format,
00:52 and great memories. Good for yourself also.
00:54 Can you take us back and pick out the defining memory for yourself of that occasion?
01:02 I think for me the best thing about the whole day was it was just such a good day.
01:06 The sun was out in Scotland, full house.
01:09 And I think the most pleasing thing for me is England played a really good game of cricket,
01:13 and I think that sometimes gets lost because we won.
01:15 But I think they were exceptional on the day as well.
01:18 Jonny Bester scored an unbelievable 100, but we were just a little bit better.
01:21 And I think the way the game got so tight at the end and so tense was just incredible.
01:25 And I think just the pure emotion after of getting across the line,
01:29 something we'd spoken about for a couple of years,
01:31 of delivering those kind of performances, and we did it.
01:35 In 2020 cricket, what does this Scotland team need to do to beat England?
01:41 What's your part of the deal that you have to fulfil?
01:45 Score more runs than them.
01:47 No, look, I think with T20 cricket, everyone's got to be there, they've got to be at it.
01:52 But it kind of takes one or two individuals to have their best day.
01:55 And I think that's sort of the message we kind of send is expect to have your best day.
02:00 And I think if you have your best day, we're going to be pretty close to winning a game.
02:03 And that seems to be the way T20 cricket goes,
02:05 is it becomes an individual having a really good day or a collective team effort.
02:10 And there is quite a few in the squad who were there in 2018 and who were part of that match.
02:15 Is that sort of, as in all that memory and that sort of physical memory of having been there
02:20 and done it and knocked England off the perch,
02:22 is that something that will be present on the field and helpful tomorrow?
02:26 Yeah, I think so. I can't say we've spoken about it, to be honest.
02:29 I don't think anyone's really talked about it.
02:31 But, you know, it is in the back of the memory that we've done this before
02:34 and we've beaten teams like England.
02:36 So, you know, it's a confidence booster,
02:39 but ultimately it'll mean nothing tomorrow in terms of turning up and getting the job done.
02:44 What's my opinion, Fantasy Pavilion?
02:48 I just want to go back to when the team would have seen the group stages,
02:53 sort of the group that you all got, what was the reaction and what's your approach?
02:58 Because, of course, two juggernauts in the group stages.
03:00 In this tournament?
03:02 Yes.
03:03 Look, we've got four games and we've got to win four games.
03:05 I think there's nothing too complicated about it.
03:08 They're all teams.
03:10 Well, I was going to say, we've not beaten Australia,
03:13 but we've beaten three of the four teams,
03:15 so three out of four wins is going to be good enough to take us through.
03:17 But we've got to take each day as it comes
03:19 and we've got to earn the right to win these games.
03:22 I'm sure you would have viewed the game last night,
03:25 saw what the pitchers were doing, what's your approach for tomorrow?
03:29 Any notes, anything that changed your perspective going into tomorrow's game?
03:34 No, not really.
03:36 I think it's going to be who adapts quickest.
03:38 It will be a day game tomorrow, so the pitch will play differently, I'm sure.
03:42 It will just be about who can adapt the quickest
03:45 and find the best way to score runs.
03:47 It might be a bit more attritional cricket in terms of
03:49 it looked a bit lower and a bit slower,
03:51 but I think we've been preparing for that.
03:53 A lot of the Caribbean wickets have been quite similar,
03:55 so I think we're ready to go.
03:57 Matt, does it feel different at all,
04:01 the fact that the format's changed so much for this World Cup
04:04 and they've got rid of that,
04:06 what you weren't allowed to call a qualification round?
04:09 Does it feel better to feel that you're part of this thing,
04:13 or do you just still look at it and go,
04:15 "Right, well, this is a group stage, it's still a group stage"?
04:18 I think you can look at it both ways.
04:20 Ultimately, the opportunity's greater
04:22 because we get to play two of the top teams,
04:24 any which group you end up in.
04:26 So that's not always guaranteed,
04:28 and I think the cut-throat associate world means that
04:30 it's a scrap to get through from the qualifier.
04:34 We had it hard last year with getting so close -
04:38 sorry, two years ago.
04:40 But I think it works both ways.
04:42 I think it's nice to have four games.
04:44 Three games feels really quick,
04:45 and you're on the flight home potentially before you even know it.
04:47 So I do quite like the new format,
04:49 and I think there's a good opportunity for a team
04:51 that plays well enough to progress.
04:53 I've got a batting and a bowling question, if that's OK.
04:56 Batting-wise, there have been a lot of changes
05:00 in the last couple of years, with different players coming in.
05:03 The Premier League's coming back as well.
05:05 There have been a few changes in the matches leading up.
05:08 Is that top order in particular - do you think it's quite settled?
05:11 Has everyone just been having a go so they're ready?
05:15 I don't think it's like that.
05:17 I think we have a couple of challenges with guys coming in,
05:19 and at Scotia we had a couple of issues with visas.
05:22 So I think ultimately it presents opportunity
05:24 for some of the younger lads and other players to have a go,
05:27 which I think's important for their development.
05:30 I think we know, specifically the senior guys,
05:33 what their roles are and what's been expected.
05:35 I think Doug's been pretty clear about what he's expecting from us,
05:38 so I don't think we're searching for answers, if that makes sense.
05:43 You keep up to Brandon quite a lot,
05:58 and you're keeping up sometimes to Brad as well.
06:02 What's the decision-making process for you at that point,
06:08 when to come up and when not to?
06:10 I've always left it up to the bowler,
06:12 because ultimately I think the bowler needs to feel comfortable.
06:15 I know some people don't always see it that way,
06:17 but I think the bowler's got to be happy and want you to be up,
06:19 because I think it changes the dynamic for them.
06:22 I've been in enough situations where I've stood up to bowlers
06:24 and they're not happy about it, and they start trying to bowl quicker
06:26 and it goes all wrong.
06:28 I think it's important, especially on these pitches,
06:30 because it takes something away from the batter.
06:32 I think Brandon and Brad have specifically bowled really well with the keeper up.
06:36 For some of these teams, it's a challenge they don't come across as often,
06:39 especially with the medium-paced swingers.
06:42 I'm more than happy to do it,
06:44 but I let the bowlers decide if they want me or not.
06:46 Do you let the batter know that you're there?
06:48 Maybe in my younger days, but now I just stay quiet and try and catch it.
06:53 [inaudible]
06:56 Morning.
06:59 You would have played in Antigua, some of your players played in Antigua,
07:03 in the cool and smooth.
07:05 Did that help with your preparation?
07:07 Was that something that impacted being here?
07:11 And then the other question is, for most cricketers,
07:15 what they tell me is that it's a dream to play at Ken's and Overland Barbados
07:19 with those legendary names on the walls.
07:22 Has that factored into your team plans to win it here?
07:26 To harness the spirit of them.
07:29 Antigua was brilliant last year.
07:35 We were in Antigua for a month last year.
07:38 I think it was quite an important prep in terms of getting used to playing
07:41 in these types of conditions, and also gave us an opportunity for a few guys
07:45 to come into the squad who were on the fringes to see what they're about.
07:48 A couple of those guys are in the squad now,
07:50 so I think in terms of that side of things it was important.
07:53 It was good to be part of the cool and smooth.
07:55 I really enjoyed it, enjoyed picking up the trophy with my boys at Empire Nation.
08:00 In terms of just being in the Caribbean, it's awesome to be here.
08:04 Like you said, every ground we go to you see these guys' names on all the walls,
08:07 pavilions, and it's pretty cool.
08:09 We've been lucky enough to meet a few of them.
08:11 The four nights were over in Scotland recently, and we got to see them again.
08:15 They're such nice guys and so humble, and they gave some really sound advice
08:20 for our guys in terms of we're more than good enough to win games at this level,
08:24 and it's just about enjoying it and competing hard.
08:28 Who is the one West Indian legend you would most like to meet?
08:32 Most like to meet?
08:34 Or encounter, rather.
08:36 I got to meet Siviv a couple of times now, and I was following him on the golf course
08:40 and the four-ball behind, so I think that's as good as I can get it.
08:44 He's pretty handy on the golf course.
08:47 Appreciate it. Thank you.
08:49 Thank you very much.
08:55 Cheers, guys.