TOM BRUCE TO PLAY FOR SCOTLAND
The international cricket career of TOM BRUCE is finally set to resume, just not for the BLACKCAPS.
The Central Stags captain, and 2025 Stags and NZC men's Dream11 Super Smash Player of the Year, has been picked for Scotland ahead of their ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 series in Canada.
Scotland will face Canada and Namibia across four one-dayers in Ontario between 29 August and 6 September, with Bruce poised to make his One-Day International debut.
Bruce is eligible to wear the thistle through his Edinburgh-born father, Stephen and it won't be his first representative outing for the country - he previously represented Scotland's Men's Development squad in 2016, before making the BLACKCAPS' T20i squad the following year.
Bruce's best form hasn't seen a BLACKCAPS recall
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There are other Kiwi connections to the Scotland side, with Head Coach Doug Watson having previously coached the Auckland Aces in New Zealand, and current Central Stags Ford Trophy and Plunket Shield Head Coach Glenn Pocknall having served as Watson's assistant coach (on sabbatical) in recent winters.
Bruce produced impressive feats in both white-ball and red-ball cricket during the Stags' 2024/25 season, and was the Stags' top run-scorer at the recent ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League.
He led from the front to lift the Dream11 Super Smash trophy last summer, then scored a brilliant Stags record 345 (New Zealand's third highest first-class score of all time, bettered only by Bert Sutcliffe) in the Plunket Shield, adding to a string of double centuries in recent years.
The 34-year-old has captained New Zealand A in recent seasons and helped win Plunket Shield and Ford Trophy titles as well.
But despite his good form, he hasn't been picked for a BLACKCAPS squad since February 2020. That was against India, at the Mount.
Bruce's international debut had arrived a few summers earlier in Napier, and all up he has played 17 T20is (even putting his hand up to keep wicket, at times) in scattered appearances for the BLACKCAPS between 2016/17 and 2019/20 - striking at 122.36, and scoring two T20 International half centuries.
Meanwhile for the Stags, he now has more than 2,500 T20 runs, at a strike rate above 140 with 18 half centuries, and will continue to play for the team as normal.
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“There’s a long Scottish history within my family and I know they will be incredibly proud that I am representing Scotland on the world stage,“ said Bruce.
"I’ve been fortunate enough to play for New Zealand, and I want to continue to showcase my skills on the world stage - and help the Scotland team achieve success, as I know the group can achieve success, and continuing to grow as a team.“
Bruce said he had really enjoyed his previous involvement with Scotland in 2016.
"It was an awesome experience. I played alongside and against a lot of the current group of Scotland players, and it’s been great following their development through the years so I’m looking forward to linking up with them again.
"For me, I want to help the team in any way, shape or form to play some consistent quality cricket, and ultimately help get us to a World Cup."
Stags T20 coach Ben Smith and Bruce with the Super Smash trophy
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Said Scotland coach Watson, “I’m very excited about Tom joining the group. Not only is he a world-class cricketer, but he also brings a whole range of experience as he’s played a lot of 50-over and T20 cricket.
"He’s going to add massive value, both on the field and off the field in the years ahead, and I’m looking forward to getting him amongst the group.
"I’m sure he’ll fit in perfectly well.”
Article added: Tuesday 12 August 2025
