Emerging Nations Trophy 'massive' for Scotland

Rachel Slater has taken 28 wickets and scored 172 runs for Scotland since making her debut in 2022

Seam bowler Rachel Slater believes the inaugural Emerging Nations Trophy will provide a massive boost for Scotland as they attempt to qualify for next year's T20 World Cup in England.

The inaugural staging of the competition begins in Thailand on Thursday as the eight leading associate members go head-to-head.

It also doubles as preparation for January's T20 World Cup qualifier in Nepal, a rare opportunity for Scotland to play outside the pressurised realm of global qualifiers.

And Slater is relishing the opportunity to play more international cricket.

"It's really exciting," the 23-year-old said. "Usually we go away for a few weeks or a month and then you don't see each other for seven, eight, nine months.

"So it's really nice going into this winter knowing we'll have consistent cricket building into the World Cup qualifiers.

"It does make it tougher in those tournaments when you're going into it off the back of no cricket for eight months. So it'll be nice to have some games."

Until this month, Scotland had not played a match since their dreams of reaching the 50-over World Cup were dashed by Ireland in Lahore in April.

They have beaten Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Namibia in three warm-up matches before the Emerging Nations Trophy, with Slater player of the match in the latter two.

"A massive thing with the drop off from the full members to associates with less opportunities is the amount of fixtures we play," Slater said.

"The other teams are having like a full 12-month calendar of fixtures and training, whereas it's not the same for associate teams and it is really difficult."

Slater is a full-time professional with Yorkshire and the majority of Scotland's squad have deals with county sides in England but do not get the chance to play together often.

When they do, the Scots have performed to a high standard in recent years, reaching the last T20 World Cup in the Middle East and beating West Indies at the 50-over qualifier earlier this year.

"So I think [the Emerging Nations Trophy] being brought in is massive," she said. "Knowing that you've consistently got cricket to look forward to is massive and adds a bit more purpose to training.

"So I think it's going to be really beneficial going forward and something we're really excited about."

Fantasy football keeps the competitive edge among the Scotland squad going during the long gaps between fixtures, as players fight to top their private league.

There was also a cold-weather training camp in Edinburgh earlier this month as players donned hoodies and bobble hats at Goldenacre in Edinburgh, getting some time together as a group before flying to South-East Asia.

"You definitely feel kind of a little bit disconnected from [international cricket] at times, but as a playing group and coaching group, we are pretty big on trying to stay connected," Slater said.

"We're used to it, but we know we're playing really good cricket and competing with full member nations, teams who have a full calendar.

"The fact we're able to do that with limited opportunities and resources says a lot about the group we've got."

Scotland squad

Sarah Bryce (The Blaze), Chloe Abel (New Town), Olivia Bell (Lancashire Thunder), Darcey Carter (Lancashire Thunder), Priyanaz Chatterji (Surrey), Katherine Fraser (Durham), Ailsa Lister (Lancashire Thunder), Abtaha Maqsood (Essex), Megan McColl (Watsonian/Dumfries), Mollie Parker (Northern Counties & Grampian Thistles), Hannah Rainey (Yorkshire), Niamh Robertson-Jack (Grange and Warwickshire), Rachel Slater (Yorkshire), Ellen Watson (Leicestershire)

Scotland in Emerging Nations Trophy

Scotland v Uganda - 20 November

Scotland v Tanzania - 21 November

Scotland v UAE - 23 November

Scotland v Namibia - 25 November

Scotland v Papua New Guinea - 26 November

Scotland v Netherlands - 28 November

Scotland v Thailand - 30 November