Matthew Cross on Scotland's T20 WC opener against England

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Matthew Cross on Scotland's T20 WC opener against England  03/06/2024  Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

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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.

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