MEMORIES OF THE ICC TROPHY - 20 YEARS ON
In July 2005, Scotland's men defeated Ireland at Clontarf in Dublin in front of a patriotic home crowd to lift the ICC Trophy, and secure qualification for the 2007 ICC Men's World Cup.
Coming hard on the heels of success at the 2004 ICC Intercontinental Cup, this victory capped a golden period and secured Scotland's status as the top performing associate nation in world cricket.
Twenty years on, some of those present in Ireland for that triumph recall their memories of a long, hot and memorable summer...
Dougie Lockhart – Scotland batter and wicketkeeper
When we didn’t finish in the top three at the 2001 ICC Trophy in Canada, and failed to qualify for the 2003 World Cup, that was the low point in many of our careers. Craig Wright, Colin Smith and I had been on full time contracts for the first time during 2001 but failing to qualify meant sportscotland funding was cut and our contracts were not renewed. At the age of 26, I knew I would need to find a real job!
There were two factors which had a big impact on moving us forward. Firstly, Tony Judd became Head Coach in 2002 and instilled a renewed sense of belief and positivity. Secondly, we entered the ECB’s National League competition in 2003 which guaranteed 18 games each season against full strength county sides. This provided us with regular high-quality cricket which we’d been lacking, and we became accustomed to competing at that level.
There were some incredible highs, notably away wins at Durham and Lancashire, Ryan Watson’s 100 v Somerset and playing twelve games with Rahul Dravid but also lows with several heavy defeats and long car journeys home for work the next day.
However, we noticed the difference when going back to playing other Associate nations and we won the ICC Intercontinental Cup in November 2004, Scotland’s first trophy in an ICC competition.
Craig Wright – Scotland bowler and captain
As is the case today, we only really got the opportunity to field our strongest team in ICC events, so it was important we maximised these opportunities to show what we were capable of, to secure World Cup qualification and the financial, commercial and growth opportunities that came with it.
Barry Chambers – Journalist, Cricket Europe
The Intercontinental Cup win had been a funny one. Ireland had just needed a draw to deny Scotland at Clontarf. Instead of preparing a road, there was a green seamer that saw a clatter of wickets fall on first day. There was a lot of rain on the final day, and it looked like it would be abandoned!
However, it dried up and Fraser Watts scored a brilliant fourth innings hundred to win it against a very good Irish attack.
Craig Wright
That game was the first time we sang Flower of Scotland in the changing room to celebrate a win – a tradition that endures to this day amongst all our international teams.
We beat Kenya in the semifinal, and then dominated the final at Sharjah against Canada, which produced one of my favourite memories in cricket: the scoreboard reading Canada were 24 for 8!
Dougie Lockhart
Most of our squad was in their late 20s or early 30s and at the peak of their game with considerable experience in the bank and understood the pressure of qualification tournaments. We had been building up to this tournament for a number of years and were ready to deliver.
Andy Moles had replaced Tony Judd as coach and recognised the strong leadership and experience in the squad so nothing much needed to change. We were all clear on our roles and how we wanted to play.
Fraser Watts – Scotland opening batter
We were a very united squad who were playing good cricket at that time, and everyone was contributing and playing their part. We had good leadership that just let us get on with it. There were no cliques – everyone really enjoyed each other’s company.
Paul Hoffman – Scotland bowler
When we were based in Belfast during the first half of the tournament, John Blain and I spent days off lying in our Europa hotel beds, tucked up under the duvet, eating Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and Yeo valley yoghurts, watching TV and chatting. We weren’t interested in seeing the sights of Belfast like some other players – it was a long tournament, so we paced ourselves!
Dougie Lockhart
Before the tournament we decided to play a wild card with Hoffmann opening the batting which proved a masterstroke. He regularly got us off to a flier with his brutal hitting which immediately put the opposition on the back foot.
This allowed Watts, Watson and Cedric English to play with freedom and score runs consistently at the top, and then there was quality and experience from Colin Smith, Gavin Hamilton and Dougie Brown in the middle order.
Paul Hoffman
I had been doing quite well in club cricket opening the batting and hit a 35-ball ton at Carlton earlier in the season. We had a very long batting order, so there was no harm in giving me free licence at the top. There was no pressure on me, as I was given the instruction of just swing hard, and I loved it.
Dougie Lockhart
The seam attack of John Blain, Hoffman, Wright and Brown was probably the best Scottish attack of all time and were far too good for most of our opponents.
Craig Wright
The fact we won seven straight games might suggest it was all plain sailing. As is standard for Scotland teams it certainly wasn’t!
Neil Leitch – Scotland Scorer
Scotland’s first match was at Shaw's Bridge in Belfast against Oman, who were bowled out for 83 in 28.2 overs after electing to bat first. They complained the Scotland bowling was too quick for their ageing batsmen! Destructor in chief was Hoffmann, who took 6 for 12 in 8 overs.
The second game was against Canada, whose main threat was a destructive opening batsman, John Davison, who had been a regular State player in Australia. There was much relief when Blain got him out for 11, caught behind by Smith, and Canada only managed to make 189 for 8 in their 50 overs.
Anxiety quickly returned when Hoffmann & English were dismissed with the first two balls of the Scotland innings. Calm was restored with only one more wicket falling, as Watts and Smith steered Scotland home with an unbeaten partnership of 153.
Craig Wright
The challenges of being a largely amateur team were highlighted when our wicket keeper/batter Colin Smith had to leave to go and police the G8 summit at Gleneagles. He was due to only miss two games...
Colin Smith – Scotland batter and wicketkeeper
For me it was a frustrating but surreal experience. I was injured for the first game against Oman but returned for my 100th cap to help beat Canada. That proved to be my only meaningful contribution in the tournament. The game was on 2 July, and I then had to return to Scotland for work to help police the G8 Conference, being held at Gleneagles.
I was almost back on a flight on 5 July, but protestors broke through the barriers surrounding the famous hotel during that afternoon and the panic button was pushed.
Instead of a flight to Belfast, I along with every spare Grampian police officer was flown from Aberdeen to Prestwick, where we relieved Specialist Riot officers. That’s where I remained until 9 July!
Paul Hoffman
I have a vivid memory of when I smashed the PNG opening bowler Toka Gaudi for six over his head at Shaw’s Bridge. I sarcastically walked down the pitch and said, “Well bowled, mate”. He stopped, turned around and gave me a glare that still haunts me till this day. He cleaned bowled me soon after!
Dougie Lockhart
We won all five group games comfortably to guarantee World Cup qualification, but the squad was determined to go unbeaten and lift another trophy.
Colin Smith
Willie Dick, the unusually named but respected cricket journalist and Scottish fan was my saviour whilst stuck at work. Smart phones did not exist in 2005 so my only means of keeping up with events in Ireland was phoning him every 20 minutes for an update! I owe him a lot for his patience in doing that.
Neil Leitch
Scotland were strong favourites to win the semi-final against Bermuda, but it nearly all went terribly wrong. When rain began to fall, they were behind on run rate.
With the bearing of a doctor advising a patient of a potentially fatal illness, I advised the not out batsmen, Cedric English & Gavin Hamilton, of our perilous position as the rain continued to fall. Luckily it did stop, and Scotland eventually romped home with some ease.
Dougie Lockhart
We had total confidence that we would win the final. At our team meeting the night before, Andy Moles sat us in a circle, and he asked that each person say a few words about what the person sitting to their left added to the squad. Hearing everyone’s words demonstrated the respect and belief that every player had from the rest of the squad. Nothing else needed to be said. We went out and dominated Ireland the next day.
Colin Smith
I made it back to the team the day before the final. I was met by a buoyant group sporting some horrendous haircuts and a hotel room toilet that I could not enter due to crates of Deuchars IPA blocking the doorway. I can think of worse things preventing me brushing my teeth!
Neil Leitch
It was a full house, with nearly all Ireland supporters. Scotland got away to a flier, with Paul Hoffmann clubbing 23 from 14 balls as an opening bat, and the rest of the batsmen followed suit. The crowd went rather quiet.
The President of the Irish Cricket Union passed by me and quipped, "See yer man Hoffmann, he's ruined this game". The Scotland total of 324 for 8 was their highest ever at that time in a one-day game.
Barry Chambers
It had been a scorching week in Dublin, a real heatwave. Ryan Watson was magnificent – he was the best batter in Associate cricket at that time – and shared a big stand with Fraser Watts, before Dougie Brown took the score out of reach. Ireland threatened to chase it at one stage with Jeremy Bray and Ed Joyce, but Scotland had a very good bowling attack and 324 in those days was probably more like 424 today.
Paul Hoffman
When we removed Joyce, I knew we were going to win the tournament. It was a mix of relief and joy. My only regret was missing singing the national anthem in the changing room after the final, as I was too busy celebrating with Scotland supporters outside the pavilion!
Neil Leitch
At the time, part of my paid employment was to negotiate with the Trade Union Officials of National Irish Bank. It was one of the harder tasks on my job spec, so I curried favour by getting two of them tickets for the Final. Halfway through the afternoon I received a text from them saying "We concede and are going home". It is the only time they ever conceded in my dealings with them!
Barry Chambers
The loss turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Ireland as they went into group with Pakistan, Zimbabwe and West Indies and eventually qualified for the Super Eights. Scotland as winners got Australia, South Africa and the Dutch!
Fraser Watts
Winning that final against a very strong Irish team was a standout moment, with a lot of Scottish support there including lots of friends and family, which made it even more special. It was a really hot day and a great high scoring game to watch, a real spectacle.
Craig Wright
We had been determined to prove that we were the best Associate country. Winning the Intercontinental Cup and then the ICC Trophy without losing a game achieved that goal.