Ryan Watson
Encyclopedia
Ryan Robert Watson born 12 November 1976, Salisbury (now Harare
), Zimbabwe
) is a cricket
er who plays for Scotland
. Watson is a hard hitting right-handed batsman and is able to bowl both medium-fast and off-break deliveries. He hit the headlines in 2003 when he hit a century
off just 43 balls in a game against Somerset at The Grange, Edinburgh. In 2008 he became one of the first three players to be awarded a contract with Cricket Scotland
.
a free lance cricket writer were on the cricket coaching staff of Potchefstroom boys high in South Africa. He decided at age 23 to leave his South Africa permanently and qualify to play for Scotland under residency rules. His early career in Scotland was at Meigle C.C.
wher he first played as an overseas professional aged 17. A move to Falkland cricket club in Fife for better terms followed, before later moving to Forfarshire CC. His father Larry played cricket for Rhodesia
now Zimbabwe
.
as they successfully chased 293 in a One Day International at Mombasa
. It was the first ever century for Scotland in ODI cricket.
He had a largely disappointing Cricket World Cup in 2007 although he had the privilege of captaining his side for their second group match against South Africa. The opposing captain was his ex-school mate Graeme Smith
. After the tournament Watson was given the job full time, replacing Craig Wright
as captain.
Until 2008, the Scotland cricket team was made up of amateurs, players did not have contracts with the game's governing body in the country, Cricket Scotland
, and balanced their sports careers with full-time jobs. Cricket Scotland began professionalising the national team in 2008 with the introduction of contracts for three of its players. Watson was one of the three along with fast-bowlers Gordon Goudie
and Dewald Nel
. A year later Watson turned down a contract extension with Cricket Scotland in order to pursue employment outside cricket.
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
), Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
) is a cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who plays for Scotland
Scottish cricket team
The Scotland national cricket team represents Scotland in the game of cricket. They compete in the Clydesdale Bank 40 as the Scottish Saltires...
. Watson is a hard hitting right-handed batsman and is able to bowl both medium-fast and off-break deliveries. He hit the headlines in 2003 when he hit a century
Century (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a batsman reaches his century when he scores 100 or more runs in a single innings. The term is also included in "century partnership" which occurs when two batsmen add 100 runs to the team total when they are batting together. A century is regarded as a landmark score for...
off just 43 balls in a game against Somerset at The Grange, Edinburgh. In 2008 he became one of the first three players to be awarded a contract with Cricket Scotland
Cricket Scotland
Cricket Scotland, formerly known as the Scottish Cricket Union, is the governing body of the sport of cricket in Scotland. The body is based at the National Cricket Academy, Edinburgh....
.
Early days
In 1998, Watson along with Warren CarneWarren Carne
Warren James Carne born 14 October 1975 in Bulawayo, Matabeleland, Rhodesia is a former Zimbabwean Mountain biker.-Early years:...
a free lance cricket writer were on the cricket coaching staff of Potchefstroom boys high in South Africa. He decided at age 23 to leave his South Africa permanently and qualify to play for Scotland under residency rules. His early career in Scotland was at Meigle C.C.
Meigle C.C.
Meigle C.C. is a cricket club from Meigle, Perthshire, Scotland.Established in 1876, it has won the Strathmore & Perthshire Cricket Union, of which it was a founder member in 1929, on five occasions 2001, 1998, 1980, 1961 and 1954. The club was second to Brechin in the inaugural season...
wher he first played as an overseas professional aged 17. A move to Falkland cricket club in Fife for better terms followed, before later moving to Forfarshire CC. His father Larry played cricket for Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
now Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
.
International career
Watson made his ODI debut on the 27th of June 2006 against Pakistan at Edinburgh and had to step in at the last minute as captain. With Scotland struggling at 4/20, Watson led from the front by scoring 80 off 85 balls. In January 2007 he hit a match-winning 117 not out against CanadaCanadian cricket team
The Canada cricket team is the national cricket team representing Canada in men's international competition. It is run by Cricket Canada.While Canada is not sanctioned to play Test matches, the team does take part in One Day International matches and also in first-class games against other...
as they successfully chased 293 in a One Day International at Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
. It was the first ever century for Scotland in ODI cricket.
He had a largely disappointing Cricket World Cup in 2007 although he had the privilege of captaining his side for their second group match against South Africa. The opposing captain was his ex-school mate Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith
Graeme Craig Smith is a South African cricketer and captain of the South African cricket team Test Match side, having succeeded Shaun Pollock after the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
. After the tournament Watson was given the job full time, replacing Craig Wright
Craig Wright (cricketer)
Craig McIntyre Wright is a former Scottish cricket player who currently plays for Watsonian Cricket Club. He was a big hitting right-handed middle order batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler.-Career:...
as captain.
Until 2008, the Scotland cricket team was made up of amateurs, players did not have contracts with the game's governing body in the country, Cricket Scotland
Cricket Scotland
Cricket Scotland, formerly known as the Scottish Cricket Union, is the governing body of the sport of cricket in Scotland. The body is based at the National Cricket Academy, Edinburgh....
, and balanced their sports careers with full-time jobs. Cricket Scotland began professionalising the national team in 2008 with the introduction of contracts for three of its players. Watson was one of the three along with fast-bowlers Gordon Goudie
Gordon Goudie
Gordon Goudie is a Scottish cricketer. He played in the 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka having moved to England as an apprentice with the MCC Young Cricketers at Lord's....
and Dewald Nel
Dewald Nel
Johan Dewald Nel is a South African-born Scottish cricketer. He is a primarily a right-arm fast-medium bowler, who also bats right-handed....
. A year later Watson turned down a contract extension with Cricket Scotland in order to pursue employment outside cricket.