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Coughtrie On Dream Winter With Scotland

5 October 2012

Richard Coughtrie has been selected by Scotland for a month-long tour of South Africa starting this weekend.

And if all goes well the 24-year-old Gloucestershire wicketkeeper is also likely to take part in further tours to India and Dubai after Christmas.

Although Richard was born in North Shields, near Newcastle, he now qualifies to play international cricket for Scotland through his ancestry on his father Douglas’s side.

The regulations have been changed to permit the use of players with UK passports and Scottish parentage, instead of only those who were born or live in Scotland.

Richard told this website: “I investigated the possibility of playing for Scotland while I was at Durham, but at that time the rules prevented it because I was born in England.

“Recently the Professional Cricketers Association contacted me to say that the regulations had been relaxed.

“My father is a Glaswegian, as was his father, and I have always felt as much Scottish as English. Playing for Scotland now would not prevent me from playing for England further down the line if the opportunity ever arose, so the situation is ideal.

“Suddenly I am part of the Scotland Performance Programme and have a wonderful chance to become part of their plans for the next World Cup.”

Richard leaves tomorrow. The first match of the tour to South Africa is on Monday evening against Kolkata Knight Riders, who are over there preparing for the Champions League, which starts next week.

Richard added: “One of the great things about going away with Scotland is that it should help me show off my one-day skills.

“Although I am considered an occupier of the crease in county cricket, I do work at my one-day game and I want to be part of Gloucestershire’s team in all competitions next season.”

With Jon Batty having retired, Richard is now the senior wicketkeeper at the club, although the inexperienced Gareth Roderick and Cameron Herring will compete for the gloves in 2013.

“It is going to be a very big summer for me and I couldn’t hope for better preparation,” said Richard.

“If I go on all the trips with Scotland it will be a busy winter and I will gain experience of a variety of conditions.

“The season just ended didn’t go as well as I had hoped, but I learned a lot about myself and feel stronger for it.”

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