Scotland Cricket Squad 2025 Announced | Jones, Naylor Included for Netherlands & Nepal Series

Scotland Name Squads for Netherlands and Nepal Series Ahead of T20 World Cup Qualifiers

Summary
Cricket Scotland has announced two squads for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 series and the Men’s T20I Tri-Series against Netherlands and Nepal in June.
The home fixtures will be staged at Forfarshire CC and Clydesdale CC, serving as vital preparation for the T20 World Cup European Qualifier.
Mackenzie Jones earns his first senior call-up, while Liam Naylor and Olly Davidson make timely returns.
Pace bowler Gavin Main rejoins the T20I setup, as Richie Berrington continues to lead both sides.
Head of Performance Steve Snell emphasized the importance of these matches for team chemistry, selection continuity, and momentum building.

Scotland Names Balanced Squads for Netherlands and Nepal Series at Home

Cricket Scotland has officially announced their senior men’s squads for a crucial home stretch in June, featuring two formats against familiar European rivals. The Scots will face Netherlands and Nepal in four ODIs as part of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, followed by a four-match T20I Tri-Series, forming a vital preparatory block ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier in July.

Set to take place at Forfarshire CC in Dundee for the ODIs (June 2–12) and Clydesdale CC in Glasgow for the T20Is (June 15–20), the series marks an opportunity for players to cement roles, regain form, and bridge the transition from domestic and youth circuits to international assignments.

Mackenzie Jones Called Up as Scotland Reward Youth and Consistency

A major headline from the announcement was the inclusion of Mackenzie Jones, a promising fast bowler from Essex, who represented Scotland at the 2024 U19 World Cup. This marks his first senior international call-up, reflecting Scotland’s ongoing commitment to nurturing talent through their performance pathways.

Speaking on his inclusion, Steve Snell, Head of Performance at Cricket Scotland, highlighted Jones’s ability to extract bounce and hit the deck hard. “Mackenzie has really caught the eye... this is a great opportunity to expose him to a new environment,” Snell said. His addition injects fresh energy into both squads and indicates a future-forward approach from the selectors.

Joining him is Liam Naylor, returning to the national fold for the first time since 2023. Having impressed with his domestic consistency and scoring style, Naylor will be aiming to convert his rich vein of form into match-defining performances for Scotland.

Familiar Faces Return as Berrington Leads Experienced Core

Scotland’s captain Richie Berrington continues to lead both squads, providing continuity and leadership across the formats. He is joined by established names like George Munsey, Matthew Cross, Michael Leask, and Mark Watt—all integral parts of Scotland’s recent success in international tournaments.

The ODI squad features Olly Davidson, a left-arm spinner from Carlton, making a return for the CWCL2 fixtures, while the T20I team welcomes back pace bowler Gavin Main. Main’s recall is expected to bolster the seam attack, offering valuable pace options alongside Safyaan Sharif and Finlay McCreath.

In both squads, the selectors have opted for a careful blend of youth and experience, ensuring competitive depth without compromising on match-readiness ahead of the demanding T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier in July, set to be hosted in the Netherlands.

Strategic Home Advantage as Preparations Ramp Up for July

Playing on home soil is a rare luxury for associate teams, and Scotland cricket squad 2025 will be keen to make the most of it. Both series provide the players with an opportunity to acclimatize, sharpen roles, and give the coaches a clearer picture of combinations.

Steve Snell emphasized the “fantastic support” the team enjoys from local fans and the boost it provides the players. “It’s an important month for us across both formats,” Snell said. “The T20 series at Clydesdale will be good preparation for the Netherlands qualifier. We don’t get a lot of time to play high-intensity T20s together, so this series is crucial.”

Scotland recently ended their Netherlands tour on a strong note, and Snell credited the squad for showing “real character” to finish well. That momentum will be key as they aim to qualify for yet another global T20 event.

Key Fixtures and Focus Points Ahead of the Qualifier

The ODI series, part of the ICC’s ongoing CWCL2 campaign, will be especially vital for gaining points and improving ranking stability. Scotland currently sits in a strong position, but maintaining consistency is critical, especially with Nepal’s recent rise in form and the Netherlands proving competitive across formats.

The T20I Tri-Series will likely focus on testing batting orders and bowling combinations. With players like Chris Greaves, Jasper Davidson, and Chris McBride in the mix for the shorter format, the upcoming games will serve as selection trials and rhythm builders for the qualifier.

Notably, some players were unavailable due to county contracts and personal reasons, which opened the door for newer names to step up. It underscores the challenges associate nations face with player availability, but also highlights the depth in Scotland’s domestic system.