{{short description|Scottish cricketer (born 1976)}} {{Other people|Ryan Watson}} {{for|the New Zealand cricketer|Ryan Watson (New Zealand cricketer)}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Ryan Watson | image = Ryan watson india odi.jpg | country = Scotland | fullname = Ryan Robert Watson | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|11|12|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Harare|Salisbury]], [[Rhodesia]] | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right arm [[Medium pace bowling|medium]] | role = Batsman | international = true | internationalspan = 2006–2009 | odidebutdate = 27 June | odidebutyear = 2006 | odidebutagainst = Pakistan | odicap = 21 | lastodidate = 28 August | lastodiyear = 2009 | lastodiagainst = Australia | T20Idebutdate = 12 September | T20Idebutyear = 2007 | T20Idebutagainst = Pakistan | T20Icap = 9 | lastT20Idate = 7 June | lastT20Iyear = 2009 | lastT20Iagainst = South Africa | columns = 4 | column1 = [[One Day International|ODI]] | matches1 = 35 | runs1 = 956 | bat avg1 = 30.83 | 100s/50s1 = 1/6 | top score1 = 123[[not out|*]] | deliveries1 = 570 | wickets1 = 12 | bowl avg1 = 44.00 | fivefor1 = 0 | tenfor1 = 0 | best bowling1 = 3/18 | catches/stumpings1 = 11/– | column2 = [[Twenty20 International|T20I]] | matches2 = 10 | runs2 = 159 | bat avg2 = 17.66 | 100s/50s2 = 0/1 | top score2 = 54 | deliveries2 = 60 | wickets2 = 3 | bowl avg2 = 30.66 | fivefor2 = 0 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 1/4 | catches/stumpings2 = 4/– | column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]] | matches3 = 15 | runs3 = 843 | bat avg3 = 38.31 | 100s/50s3 = 2/4 | top score3 = 167 | deliveries3 = 842 | wickets3 = 19 | bowl avg3 = 23.94 | fivefor3 = 1 | tenfor3 = 0 | best bowling3 = 5/74 | catches/stumpings3 = 19/– | column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]] | matches4 = 143 | runs4 = 3,371 | bat avg4 = 26.33 | 100s/50s4 = 3/18 | top score4 = 123[[not out|*]] | deliveries4 = 3,527 | wickets4 = 81 | bowl avg4 = 38.44 | fivefor4 = 0 | tenfor4 = 0 | best bowling4 = 4/24 | catches/stumpings4 = 56/– | date = 7 October | year = 2017 | source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/44/44898/44898.html CricketArchive }}
'''Ryan Robert Watson''' (born 12 November 1976) is a Zimbabwean-born Scottish [[cricket]]er who played limited over internationals and captained [[Scottish cricket team|Scotland]]. He currently plays club cricket with [[Forfarshire Cricket Club|Forfarshire]]. 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 (cricket)|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]].
==Early days==
Watson was previously on the coaching staff of [[Potchefstroom Boys High]] in South Africa. He decided at the age of 23 to leave South Africa permanently in an attempt to qualify to play for Scotland under residency rules. His early career in Scotland was at [[Meigle C.C.]] where 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]]).
==International career== Watson made his ODI debut on 27 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 on his debut. In that same match he along with [[Neil McCallum (cricketer)|Neil McCallum]] set the world record for the highest ever ODI partnership by two debutants in ODI history for any wicket (they put on a 118 runstand for the 5th wicket. In fact this is the only 100+ partnership in ODI history by 2 debutants in history)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/240777.html|title=Only ODI: Scotland v Pakistan at Edinburgh, Jun 27, 2006 {{!}} Cricket Scorecard {{!}} ESPN Cricinfo|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2017-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283516.html|title=Records {{!}} One-Day Internationals {{!}} Partnership records {{!}} Highest partnership by debutants {{!}} ESPN Cricinfo|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2017-03-31}}</ref> In January 2007 he hit a match-winning 117 not out against [[Canadian cricket team|Canada]] 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 (cricketer)|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]].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/scotland/content/story/382472.html |title=Professional contracts for Scotland |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=19 December 2008 |accessdate=7 June 2011}}</ref> A year later Watson turned down a contract extension with Cricket Scotland to pursue employment outside cricket.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/scotland/content/story/433993.html |title=Ryan Watson declines Scotland contract |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=11 November 2009 |accessdate=7 June 2011}}</ref>
==Retirement==
At the end of the 2011 season, Watson announced he was retiring from all forms of cricket. During his career, Watson scored over 5,000 runs for his country and shares the accolade of a record 194 caps with former teammate [[Craig Wright (cricketer)|Craig Wright]] who said "Ryan has been one of the most influential batsmen for Scotland in the last 10 years with numerous match winning innings for us". Ryan also retired as the most prolific run scorer in the Cricket Scotland League (CSL) history.
==Comeback==
On 19 April 2012 it was announced that Watson would be delaying his retirement after playing several matches during the 2012 season for Glenrothes Cricket Club.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.glenrothescc.co.uk/news/ryan-watson-to-play-for-gcc-562223.html |title=Ryan Watson delays retirement |publisher=Glenrothes Cricket Club |date=19 April 2012 |accessdate=19 April 2012}}</ref>
Watson played an important part in the 2012 play-offs and helped Glenrothes CC gain promotion to the Cricket Scotland League (CSL) for the first time in their history. At the end of 2012 season Watson confirmed he would continue playing for Glenrothes CC in the Cricket Scotland League (CSL) for the 2013 season as well as take a more active role in coaching at the club.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.cricket-online.org/player.php?player_id=50288 Cricket Online Profile] * {{cricinfo|id=25428}}
{{Scotland ODI Cricket Captains}} {{Scotland T20I Cricket Captains}} {{Navboxes |title= Scotland squads |bg= #005EB8 |fg= white |bordercolor=silver |list1= {{Scotland Squad 2007 Cricket World Cup}} {{Scotland Squad 2007 World Twenty20}} {{Scotland Squad 2009 World Twenty20}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Ryan}} [[Category:1976 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Scottish cricketers]] [[Category:Forfarshire cricketers]] [[Category:Scottish cricket captains]] [[Category:Scotland One Day International cricketers]] [[Category:Scotland Twenty20 International cricketers]] [[Category:Cricketers from Harare]] [[Category:Scottish people of Zimbabwean descent]] [[Category:Sportspeople of Zimbabwean descent]] [[Category:Scottish cricket coaches]]