Cricket

Scotland's men's cricket team has announced a 15-man squad for their upcoming T20I series against Australia in September. The series will mark the first time the two sides have met in a bilateral T20I series.The squad includes 15 players who represented Scotland at the T20 World Cup in June, including captain Richie Berrington. Two new faces have been added to the squad: right-arm quick Charlie Cassell and medium pacer Jasper Davidson.Cassell made a sensational start to his international career in July, taking 7 for 21 against Oman in the Cricket World Cup League 2. He has since played two ODIs for Scotland and featured in three One-Day Cup matches for Somerset.Davidson also made his ODI debut against Oman in the CWC League 2, taking four wickets.Scotland head coach Doug Watson said: "After coming into the squad at CWCL2 and doing so well, it'll be great for Jasper and Charlie to have the experience of what it's like playing against the best, in front of a fairly large crowd."It's a wonderful opportunity to play one of the best teams in the world, and I'm pretty sure that our players won't need any motivating for this series. It's a great opportunity for them to share the field with world-class players. They're wanting to put in some huge performances and compete, and really push this Australia team."Scotland will be aiming to win the series, which will be played at The Grange in Edinburgh on September 4, 6, and 7.

Washington Sundar, the Indian all-rounder, has been nominated for the ICC Player of the Month Award for July, alongside England's Gus Atkinson and Scotland's Charlie Cassell. Sundar's nomination is a testament to his recent performances, which have seen him establish himself as a key player for India.Sundar's journey to international recognition has been marked by perseverance and resilience. After battling injuries and spending years on the fringes of the Indian team, he finally broke through in Zimbabwe during a five-match T20I series. With the regular players rested, Sundar seized the opportunity and emerged as the team's leading spin-bowling all-rounder.In the first T20I, Sundar impressed with bowling figures of 2/11 and a valuable contribution of 27 runs. He played a crucial role in India's comeback, helping them turn a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 series victory. He took six more wickets in the remaining four matches and was named Player of the Match in the third game for his outstanding figures of 3/15. Sundar finished the series as the joint-highest wicket-taker with eight scalps.Sundar's impressive form continued in the subsequent series against Sri Lanka, where he earned the Player of the Match award in the only match he played. In a thrilling Super Over, he showcased his all-around abilities.Meanwhile, Gus Atkinson made a sensational Test debut for England at Lord's, taking 12 wickets in the match. He bagged a five-wicket haul in each innings, including a remarkable 7/45 in the first innings. Atkinson's heroics helped England secure an innings victory by 114 runs.Charlie Cassell, on the other hand, made a record-breaking ODI debut for Scotland against Oman. He claimed a seven-wicket haul (7/21), breaking Kagiso Rabada's nine-year-old record for the best bowling figures on ODI debut. Cassell's dream start included two wickets off his first two deliveries in international cricket. His performance ranked as the 7th-best bowling figures in ODI history.

Scotland's Charlie Cassell has etched his name into the history books by shattering the record for the best figures on ODI debut. In a remarkable performance against Oman in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 match in Dundee, Cassell claimed an astonishing 7 for 21 in just 5.4 overs.The previous record was held by South Africa's Kagiso Rabada, who had taken 6 for 16 on his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2015. Cassell's feat is even more impressive considering he was a late addition to the Scotland squad, replacing Chris Sole due to personal reasons.Cassell's journey to this historic moment has been marked by resilience and determination. After suffering a major injury that sidelined him for over a year, he has fought back to regain his form and earn his international debut.His captain, Richie Berrington, praised Cassell's unwavering spirit and exceptional talent. "You've come back from a huge setback, with that massive injury you had, put you out for a year and a bit," Berrington said. "Just to see your resilience coming back, getting back on the park, and just love watching what you do at Forfs [Forfashire], and just the way how you hold yourself is incredible."Cassell's debut performance was nothing short of sensational. He trapped Zeeshan Maqsood lbw and bowled Ayaan Khan with his first two deliveries, setting the tone for a dominant display. He missed out on a hat-trick but continued to wreak havoc, claiming the wickets of Khalid Kail and Shoaib Khan in quick succession.Mehran Khan and Pratik Athavale also fell victim to Cassell's lethal bowling, bringing him to the brink of history. With his seventh wicket, dismissing Bilal Khan behind the stumps, Cassell surpassed Rabada's record and became the first bowler to take seven wickets on ODI debut since Fidel Edwards in 2003.Cassell's heroics helped Scotland dismiss Oman for a paltry 91 in just 21.4 overs, setting up a comfortable victory for the hosts. His performance has not only earned him a place in the record books but has also boosted Scotland's hopes of qualifying for the 2023 Cricket World Cup.