[Sports] Scotland 'targeting series win' over Australia - live on BBC

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Three-match T20 series: Scotland v Australia

Venue: The Grange, Edinburgh Dates: 4, 6 & 7 September Start: 14:00 BST

Coverage: Watch live on the BBC Sport website & iPlayer, follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website

Scotland fully believe they can claim a historic series win over Australia when the sides meet in three T20Is in Edinburgh this week, according to all-rounder Michael Leask.

The Scots have never beaten Australia in any format but came close to a shock at the recent T20 World Cup, denied by a wonderful innings from Marcus Stoinis in St Lucia.

Scotland were also well placed to upset England during that World Cup campaign before torrential rain led to the match's abandonment.

All three of Scotland's games against Australia will be available to watch live on BBC platforms.

"It's lovely to have Australia on our home patch, especially for three games," Leask told BBC Scotland.

"It's an exciting opportunity for our guys, given what happened at the World Cup and how close we came.

"We've got a very exciting squad that’s ready for the challenge - it is going to be a challenge - they are some of the best in the world for a reason, but they are on our home patch.

"We're targeting a series win and that would be the icing on the cake of what has been a very good summer."

Outside global events, Scotland rarely get chances to take on the sport's international superpowers, victims of the selective nature of the ICC's fixture schedule.

Indeed, it is more than two years since New Zealand were in town - the last time a nation ranked in the top 10 for white ball cricket toured Scotland.

Leask says Scotland are determined to showcase their skills in this series, and expressed his annoyance at the lack of variety in the international calendar.

"It is frustrating we don't get the opportunities to play the big boys, so to speak," Leask added.

"Even the likes of Bangladesh and West Indies, we don't get opportunities to play against them. And we would take any opportunity, because the more high quality cricket we get, the better we get.

"We would love them to come and play us more often but we understand sometimes it is not feasible. We want any fixture we can get against the big boys, but they have got a heavy schedule. This is our opportunity.

"It would be nice if the higher associates got more exposure. We punch above our weight a lot of the time and that is down to the quality of the group we've got."

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh will lead a somewhat new look Australia side - still able to call upon the likes of Adam Zampa and Travis Head but not Matthew Wade or the retired David Warner.

The Western Australia all-rounder says his side are taking nothing for granted despite being firm favourites, and called for the likes of Scotland to "get more opportunities" in the years to come.

"Scotland were well drilled [at the World Cup], certainly up for the challenge and it was a great game of cricket," Marsh said. "I'm sure there will be more of that over the next few days.

"It's spoken about a lot but Scotland are a good cricket team and they have improved a lot.

"The more cricket that teams like Scotland can play against the bigger nations, the better it is for the world game. It's our responsibility as players to keep growing the game, so I certainly hope they get more opportunities over the next period of time."

Marsh is embracing the slightly different surroundings for this series, with capacity crowds of around 3,000 expected in the Scottish capital, a far cry from the colossal Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"Edinburgh's got a beautiful vibe to it, people are fantastic, very welcoming and you get a sense that all the cricket fans here are excited for the series," he said. "It's going to be a great few days.

"It's certainly a very scenic ground. A beautiful city to play cricket in and we're very excited."

 

https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c4gey2417weo