# Ryan Watson (cricketer) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ryan_Watson_(cricketer) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ryan_Watson_(cricketer).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Watson_(cricketer) > Source revision: 1333018790 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Scottish cricketer (born 1976) For other people named Ryan Watson, see [Ryan Watson (disambiguation)](/source/Ryan_Watson_(disambiguation)). For the New Zealand cricketer, see [Ryan Watson (New Zealand cricketer)](/source/Ryan_Watson_(New_Zealand_cricketer)). Ryan Watson Personal information Full name Ryan Robert Watson Born (1976-11-12) 12 November 1976 (age 49) Salisbury, Rhodesia Batting Right-handed Bowling Right arm medium Role Batsman International information National side Scotland (2006–2009) ODI debut (cap 21) 27 June 2006 v Pakistan Last ODI 28 August 2009 v Australia T20I debut (cap 9) 12 September 2007 v Pakistan Last T20I 7 June 2009 v South Africa Career statistics Competition ODI T20I FC LA Matches 35 10 15 143 Runs scored 956 159 843 3,371 Batting average 30.83 17.66 38.31 26.33 100s/50s 1/6 0/1 2/4 3/18 Top score 123* 54 167 123* Balls bowled 570 60 842 3,527 Wickets 12 3 19 81 Bowling average 44.00 30.66 23.94 38.44 5 wickets in innings 0 0 1 0 10 wickets in match 0 0 0 0 Best bowling 3/18 1/4 5/74 4/24 Catches/stumpings 11/– 4/– 19/– 56/– Source: CricketArchive, 7 October 2017 **Ryan Robert Watson** (born 12 November 1976) is a Zimbabwean-born Scottish [cricketer](/source/Cricket) who played limited over internationals and captained [Scotland](/source/Scottish_cricket_team). He currently plays club cricket with [Forfarshire](/source/Forfarshire_Cricket_Club). 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](/source/Century_(cricket)) 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](/source/Cricket_Scotland). ## Early days Watson was previously on the coaching staff of [Potchefstroom Boys High](/source/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.](/source/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](/source/Rhodesia) (now [Zimbabwe](/source/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](/source/Neil_McCallum_(cricketer)) 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)[1][2] In January 2007 he hit a match-winning 117 not out against [Canada](/source/Canadian_cricket_team) as they successfully chased 293 in a [One Day International](/source/One_Day_International) at [Mombasa](/source/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](/source/Graeme_Smith). After the tournament Watson was given the job full-time, replacing [Craig Wright](/source/Craig_Wright_(cricketer)) 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](/source/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](/source/Gordon_Goudie) and [Dewald Nel](/source/Dewald_Nel).[3] A year later Watson turned down a contract extension with Cricket Scotland to pursue employment outside cricket.[4] ## 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](/source/Craig_Wright_(cricketer)) 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.[5] 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 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Only ODI: Scotland v Pakistan at Edinburgh, Jun 27, 2006 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo"](http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/240777.html). ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 March 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Records | One-Day Internationals | Partnership records | Highest partnership by debutants | ESPN Cricinfo"](http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283516.html). ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 March 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [*Professional contracts for Scotland*](http://www.espncricinfo.com/scotland/content/story/382472.html), ESPNcricinfo, 19 December 2008, retrieved 7 June 2011 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [*Ryan Watson declines Scotland contract*](http://www.espncricinfo.com/scotland/content/story/433993.html), ESPNcricinfo, 11 November 2009, retrieved 7 June 2011 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [*Ryan Watson delays retirement*](http://www.glenrothescc.co.uk/news/ryan-watson-to-play-for-gcc-562223.html), Glenrothes Cricket Club, 19 April 2012, retrieved 19 April 2012 ## External links - [Cricket Online Profile](http://www.cricket-online.org/player.php?player_id=50288) - [Ryan Watson](https://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/25428.html) at [Cricinfo](/source/Cricinfo) v t e Scotland ODI cricket captains 1999: Salmond 2006–07: Wright 2006–07: Watson 2009–10: Hamilton 2010–13: Drummond 2013–14; 2017–22: Coetzer 2013–16: Mommsen 2022–: Berrington v t e Scotland T20I cricket captains 2007–08: Watson 2009–10: Hamilton 2012–13: Drummond 2012–13; 2017–22: Coetzer 2013–2016: Mommsen 2022–: Berrington Scotland squads v t e Scotland squad – 2007 Cricket World Cup 4 Blain 8 Lyons 10 Haq 12 Watts 17 Nel 18 Rogers 21 Lockhart 23 Brown 25 McCallum 27 Watson 28 Poonia 34 Hoffmann 37 Hamilton 55 Smith 99 Wright (c) v t e Scotland squad – 2007 World Twenty20 4 Blain 5 Maiden 8 Lyons 10 Haq 12 Watts 17 Nel 22 Sheikh 23 Brown 24 Drummond 25 McCallum 27 Watson (c) 28 Poonia 37 Hamilton 55 Smith (wk) 99 Wright Coach: Peter Steindl v t e Scotland squad – 2009 World Twenty20 – Coetzer – Hamilton (c) – McCallum – Poonia – Watts – Watson – Haq – Stander – Wright – Smith (wk) – Blain – Drummond – Berrington – Rogers – Nel Coach: Peter Steindl --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ryan Watson (cricketer)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Watson_(cricketer)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Watson_(cricketer)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.