South Australia’s Liam Scott says being selected in the Australian One-Day International squad for the upcoming matches in Pakistan and Bangladesh is a “dream come true” after receiving the news during a recent training camp in Brisbane.
The call up comes after a breakout 12 months for Scott, who was named in the Big Bash League’s Team of the Tournament in January, following a standout campaign with the Adelaide Strikers.
Scott also claimed the Sheffield Shield's Player of the Season after helping South Australia secure back-to-back Shield titles in March.
The all-rounder returned to Adelaide this week with the Australian team, following a late schedule change caused by wet weather in Brisbane, and reflected on what has been a whirlwind few weeks.
Liam Scott on receiving his first International call up:
It's obviously a pretty cool moment to be told that you're going to be travelling to hopefully play for your country. It's a dream come true, that's for sure.
Ronnie (Andrew McDonald), the head coach, pulled me aside. We were off in a camp in Brisbane a couple weeks ago. It was a pretty special, pretty cool moment that doesn't come around too often.
Liam Scott on telling his family:
The first person I called was my dad. He was over the moon, all those throws in the backyard, and at the local nets have paid off.
Liam Scott on learning from the Australian squad:
It's been pretty cool. You're getting to train against the guys that you sort of grow up watching, the best players in the country.
I feel like you can only ever get better by training against them, and picking their brains, facing them, you know, communicating with them on how they go about their processes and training habits.
I think the biggest thing for me is just backing that whatever got you in the position is going to be good enough and then narrowing down on that and really owning those skills.
Hopefully, I get the opportunity when I go away, but if not, I'll just be lucky to be around the group and hopefully take it all in.
Liam Scott on the influence of South Australia’s Men’s Head Coach Ryan Harris:
For SACA, we speak a lot about owning your own process and taking charge of your own backyard, so really narrowing down on who you are as a player and the role you contribute to the team.
So, for me, I think just that self-belief in knowing what I can bring and my skill set to winning games for cricket for South Australia is the biggest learning that he is really instilled in the group. Not only for myself, but, I think, on behalf of the rest of the guys, that they would second that.
He's just really been a solid person to talk to, and a sounding board for development, both as a person, but also as a cricketer. So it's been awesome.
Liam Scott on training in Adelaide:
We had a quick change of plans. We were supposed to be up in Brissy for a camp, but you know, weather is something you can't control. So unfortunately, it was a bit miserable up there over the weekend, but lucky enough, we have these awesome facilities at Park 25 and Karen Rolton.
Amazing in May they’ve still got wickets going for us. So full credit and shout out to the guys down here and Kel's and his team, they've been awesome. So we're lucky enough to get a nice little nipper.
A nice wicket to have a good hit out before we head off to Pakistan on Saturday. So, thanks for that to the Park 25 lads.
Australia face Pakistan and Bangladesh in back-to-back ODI series starting on May 30.
Australia vs Pakistan ODI Series
May 30: First ODI, Rawalpindi Stadium, 9:00pm ACST
June 2: Second ODI, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, 9:00pm ACST
June 4: Third ODI, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, 9:00pm ACST
Australia vs Bangladesh ODI Series
June 9: First ODI, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka, 2:30pm ACST
June 11: Second ODI, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka, 2:30pm ACST
June 14: Third ODI, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka, 2:30pm ACST
All matches can be viewed on Kayo Sports and Fox Cricket.