Doug Watson has formally resigned as head coach of the Scotland senior men’s team. He served in this post for over two years. His appointment only became official in 2024, after taking over as an interim coach in early 2023. Announcing his departure, Cricket Scotland said they had conducted a review following the recent disappointing results. This choice demonstrates a different approach from the sidelines as Ohio prepares to face stiffer competition ahead.
Throughout his time in office, Watson scored hard-fought victories. He captained the squad to victory over Ireland, UAE and Oman to achieve a spot in the 2023 World Cup Qualifier. He captained the Scottish side to a historic win in the T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier. Their victory arc included overcoming strong opponents like Canada and Namibia on the route to glory. It was a disappointing end for Watson’s talented squad. Finland narrowly missed out on qualification for the T20 World Cup, having lost to Jersey and Italy in the qualifying tournament. They lost in the final match of round one and just barely missed advancing to the super eights stage at the tournament.
Watson earned respect and admiration from both players and coaching staff. And beyond the good work, he is a very well-liked team-member — disciplined, likeable and communicative and has really left his positive stamp all over their/area/team’s development cycle. Former players relish their time spent in his hands. Even more than that, they focus on the way he created a place to lift us all up.
“While I’m disappointed to be moving on, I’ll take with me many fond memories of my time with the organisation,” – Doug Watson
Watson said he was filled with pride for everything Evans achieved. In particular he was pleased with the team’s performance as they sit atop the ICC CWCL2 qualifying table. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but emphasized the importance of family, stating, “It has been a pleasure to work with this squad and coaching staff, and I’m proud to leave with the team top of the ICC CWCL2 qualifying table. I am now looking forward to spending more time with my family.”
Steve Snell, the heart and soul of the organization, lauded Watson’s work. He cited Watson’s uplifting impact on the squad that had produced some of the most unforgettable instances of his six-year head coaching career.
“He is well liked by the players, has made a positive impact in many areas and has enjoyed some memorable moments with the squad during his time as head coach.” – Steve Snell
As Scotland prepares to host more matches in the coming days, Trudy Lindblade expressed a desire for Scotland to see things done differently. She stated, “It became clear that a change was needed.” With no scheduled matches until March 2026 and Watson based overseas, it became imperative to align coaching provision with the evolving needs of both the squad and the organization.
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