ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2021

October 21, 2021

Mark Watt

Oman Cricket Academy Ground

Scotland

Post Match Media Conference

Scotland 123/2, Oman 122

Q. How satisfied are you with such a convincing victory? Obviously Oman couldn't put up a fight and getting Oman bowled out for 122 helped you. What was the game plan to achieve this?

MARK WATT: Yeah, it was pretty simple to be honest. I think the game plan was just keep doing what we're doing.

In associate cricket we're used to big games. Everything is always a must-win game in associate cricket. It's tough. So yeah, the guys are used to playing in big games, must-win games. But now we're just over the moon to top the chart.

I think it's incredible but not unbelievable. We totally believed we could do it, and yeah, the guys are absolutely buzzing.

Q. Can I have your thoughts on your own bowling performance today?

MARK WATT: Yeah, I was happy. I think if you'd said went for 20-odd after four overs, I'd take it in such a big game. Defending that short side with the Omani big hitters is tough, and I'm happy with that performance.

I thought all the bowlers bowled excellently again. I think we've been brilliant this whole campaign so far, and long may it continue.

Q. From a batting point of view, your first game against Bangladesh, you managed to defend a low total. Did that give you any pointers on what not to do against somebody like this?

MARK WATT: Yeah, I think so. I think each game if you just kind of learn on the wickets and how the opposition have played it, and I think the guys have done so well in adapting to the conditions really quickly. And yeah, I'm just so happy.

Q. Going into the Super 12 round on the back of such a convincing win, what does that do for the momentum, and what changes will you be looking to make to even improve on this performance going into that?

MARK WATT: I don't think we need to do anything else different. We've won three out of three, beaten a top-six nation in Bangladesh, so I don't think we need to change anything.

If anything, Bangladesh need to change a few things because they've struggled in this group like we knew they would. Associate cricket is tough, and yeah, I think we just need to keep doing what we're doing.

Q. Just wanted to know, were you surprised that the Omani batsmen struggled against your spinners? Was that a surprise?

MARK WATT: Definitely not a surprise. I think quite a few batsmen have struggled against our spinners. We've been bowling really well. A lot of planning has went into this tournament, so yeah, I'm not surprised that they've struggled against our spin.

We've had two years of buildup to this tournament, trying all sorts of different variations, and yeah, so I'm not too surprised that they struggled. We've got some great spinners in our team, and we've even got some more sitting ready to go. So no, not at all.

Q. What kind of a target did you think they would put up when you put them in? What were you anticipating?

MARK WATT: I think we were happy chasing anything under 140. I think if you'd have said 140 at the start of the day, we probably would have taken that. It's a good wicket, small boundary, so yeah, I think the bowlers, Davo, Saf, Brad, myself, Greavo and Leasky did really well keeping them to 120 odd. Yeah, we're just -- we're happy.

Q. Did you actually see them falling to a plan, or they just buckled under the pressure?

MARK WATT: I wouldn't say they buckled under the pressure. I think we bowled well to our plans.

A lot of planning goes into this. A lot of work by our analyst George McNeill goes into it. He puts a lot of hours in.

Yeah, I think we just bowled well to our plans, used the big boundary well, and yeah, I think we were just about saving the day.

Q. How do you see Scotland in the Super 12 round?

MARK WATT: I think we are going to make a few upsets. I don't see why not. We've done it before. We've beaten the best ODI team in the world, we've beaten Bangladesh just there. I think we're on a really good run of form.

Yeah, I think teams won't take us lightly. Yeah, they should be worried about Scotland. We're in a great run of form and we've got a lot of momentum going forward, so yeah.

Q. Were you surprised at Oman skipper opting to bat first?

MARK WATT: No, not really. I think we've won every game batting first, so I think he maybe wanted to put us under some pressure by getting off to a good start, then I think they would have flowed right through the innings quite well. They wanted to put a bit of scoreboard pressure on us, but thankfully we got off to a good start. Our seamers have been doing that throughout the whole tournament, getting us off to a good start, so I'm not surprised.

Q. Obviously you go through to the next stage, you play against India. You'll come up against the great Virat Kohli. Do you have any plans on how to get him out?

MARK WATT: I've got quite a few plans for Virat. I'm going to keep them hush-hush at the moment, but I think he should be worried (smiling).

Q. As someone who obviously plays his club cricket in Scotland, how much of an impact could this have on the national game, this kind of run you're on just now?

MARK WATT: Yeah, massively. I think a lot of people will be looking at us on the TV wanting to play for Scotland now. That's what our main aim is to do is to inspire a nation. We want kids to grow up and play different sports and try cricket. It's not a massive sport in Scotland, but we're trying to push it up there, and I think this is going to help massively.

Q. You talked about Virat Kohli, but also coming up against Babar Azam and Kane Williamson as well in the next few innings. How much are you looking forward to that?

MARK WATT: I mean, that's why you play the game, isn't it, to play against big stars. You want to challenge yourself with the best, and they certainly are the best in the world. All the guys are just absolutely buzzing to showcase their skills against the whole world. That's why you want to get into the World Cup is to play against the best teams and the best players in the whole world to challenge yourself.

Q. I wanted to ask about your emotions but it doesn't seem like you're overcome with emotion. It just sounds like you've expected to reach this stage. Would that be right?

MARK WATT: Give me an hour; I think my emotions will start to kick in once I've looked at some messages from back home. But no, I'm just trying to remain pretty calm, but as soon as I get into that changing room I think my emotions will quickly change.

Q. What are the challenges of being a spinner in Scotland, especially in the conditions that you play back home? And how do you kind of adapt and evolve to bowl on these wickets where there is a little more help than you may get otherwise?

MARK WATT: That's a good question. I think bowling spin at The Grange in Scotland is quite tough. It's quite a small ground, fast outfields in it, so it's a good wicket there. But yeah, I think if you can bowl there, if you can bowl spin there, you can bowl pretty much anywhere. It's a really good ground, a great venue and a great wicket. If you can bowl spin there -- you need to think about different variations to keep the batter guessing when it's only finger spin, but I think I've done that well in the nets and brought it into my game quite well, and yeah, long may it continue.

Q. You've got quite an audience developing here, as well --

MARK WATT: They're always trying to put me off. Anything I do, they're just trying to put me off.

Q. Your teammates are listening to you very intently here. Is there one final message you want to give to people back home that have now been inspired by Scotland and their performances in this tournament?

MARK WATT: No, we just hope that young kids are watching us and wanting to be like us. That's why we put on the shirt, to inspire a nation, and hopefully the boys have done that.