Exclusive: Munsey-Jones Partnership A Major Plus For Scotland At T20 World Cup 2026

Scotland wasn’t prepared for the 2026 edition of the T20 World Cup. Bangladesh’s eleventh-hour exit led to their entry. They won only one match in the Group Stage, but finished third, above Italy and Nepal, due to a superior net run rate of 0.184. 

The Scottish side beat Italy by 73 runs and lost to the West Indies, England, and Nepal. The margin of loss was 35 runs against two-time champions West Indies. They even caused a bit of scare for England by pinning them down at 86/4 in the chase of 153. 

Their competitiveness could reignite discussions on increasing cricket opportunities for Associate nations under the International Cricket Council. 

Fast bowler Brad Currie said that playing in front of a 42,000-crowd at the iconic Eden Gardens was similar to playing at a nightclub. And now, it remains to be seen how Scotland stores these moments in their muscle memory to retain the momentum.

MUNSEY, JONES PARTNERSHIP

Former Scotland international Simon Smith, who later became the fitness coach and High Performance Manager, highlighted the positives from the ICC showpiece. 

The opening pair of George Munsey and Michael Jones was a significant high point of their campaign and augurs well for the future. 

The duo added 126 runs against Italy and 80 against Nepal. 

"Munsey and Jones are developing a potent opening partnership, their styles complementing each other. Mark Watt continues to rank highly in both white-ball formats, and Currie provides a point of difference. Brandon McMullen is the 8th best all-rounder in men’s ODIs, and exciting young talent is emerging in the shape of Finlay McCreath, Jack Jarvis, Olly Davidson, and Charlie Tear," he told Sportsboom.co.uk. 

Munsey finished the tournament with 134 runs in four innings with a best score of 84, while Jones had 142 under his belt with 71 being his highest score. Captain Ritchie Berrington (2,451) and Munsey (2,436) have scored the bulk of the runs for Scotland in T20Is. 

"When Munsey fires, Scotland tends to win. When Michael Leask gets going, the latter stages of the innings are a good deal more productive. Berrington is the glue and has all the gears. Succession planning is another priority for the new coaching team," he observed, and felt the team should learn to close out games.

Scotland faltered from strong positions against West Indies, England and Nepal. 

"With a squad boasting nearly 1,400 white-ball caps and an average age of nearly 30, captain Berrington and coaches Owen Dawkins and Gordon Drummond know that game awareness, recognizing and winning clutch moments, must be the focus if this team is to fulfil its exciting potential," reasoned Smith, who resigned from his position at Cricket Scotland in 2020.

LESS PREPARATION, MORE CONFIDENCE

Smith stated that the World Cup experience would enhance the players' knowledge and confidence. 

“The level of challenge presented to the squad, and Cricket Scotland as a whole, cannot be overestimated. After being called up on January 20, the team was taking the field against Afghanistan in Bengaluru on February 2. A World Cup in India is an all-consuming assault on mind, body, and all the senses,” he said.

"Many felt the T20 World Cup opportunity was a ‘free hit’. The team performed creditably and will be pleased to have avenged the defeat to Italy at the qualifier. Frailty during crucial phases, particularly towards the end of batting innings, continues to be a frustrating trend, but the coaches and players are to be commended for their efforts. They were preparing for the upcoming World Cricket League 2 tri-series with Oman in Namibia in April, and the aforementioned volume of experience within the playing group helped enormously," he added.

Smith was part of the support staff when Scotland registered historic wins over Sri Lanka and England in 2017 and 2018, respectively in 50-over matches. They posted 371 against England and restricted them to 365. That perhaps was the first upward curve. 

Similarly, the learnings from the T20 World Cup, in front of big crowds, could be another chapter in their book. 

“The win over England was a landmark moment, not because it was against the Auld Enemy, but because it was against the number one team in the world, a team that would go on to lift the World Cup shortly after [in 2019]."

"It was also the culmination of another advancement in mindset. Between qualifying for and competing at the 2015 World Cup, the team had become comfortable setting and chasing totals in excess of 300. But the game had already moved on, and by the time the World Cup came round, par was nearer 350. Scotland’s 318 was hauled in comfortably by Bangladesh in Nelson," he recalled.

Six of the eleven from that England game are still in the side and have formed its backbone since. "They have been the constant during a period of significant change around them. Experienced players and coaches have moved on, and any environment would be challenged by the departure of people of the calibre of Grant Bradburn, Craig Wright, Toby Bailey, Kyle Coetzer, and Calum MacLeod," added Smith.

The Scottish women's side will appear in the T20 World Cup in June, which would be another landmark for the growth of the sport in the United Kingdom. 

"Countless players, coaches, and administrators have fought a long and challenging battle for the Scotland women’s team to earn acceptance and opportunity. The current group appears well-placed to build upon that. This summer’s Women’s T20 World Cup in England will be a second consecutive appearance for Scotland, with the bonus of playing in UK conditions and in front of family, friends, and what should be strong Scottish support," he signed off.