Why Did Tom Bruce Switch Allegiance to Scotland?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Tom Bruce has switched allegiance to Scotland from New Zealand.
- His debut is scheduled for the Cricket World Cup League 2 in Canada.
- Bruce aims to leverage his family heritage to inspire his performance.
- He has a rich domestic cricketing background with Central Districts.
- He aims to help Scotland achieve success on the international stage.
Edinburgh, Aug 12 (NationPress) Tom Bruce has officially changed his sporting allegiance from New Zealand to Scotland, set to make his debut for the Scotland team later this month during the Canada leg of the Cricket World Cup League 2, commencing on August 27.
Bruce is eligible to play for Scotland due to his father, who hails from Edinburgh. He previously participated in a Scotland Development squad in 2016 before heading to New Zealand. The accomplished top-order batter has been part of the domestic cricket scene with Central Districts since 2014 and has played 17 T20Is for New Zealand from 2017 to 2020. His most recent appearance was for Central Districts in the Global Super League held in Providence, Guyana.
"There's a long Scottish history in my family, and I know they will be incredibly proud that I am representing Scotland on the world stage. I had the privilege of playing for New Zealand five years ago, and now I aim to showcase my skills globally while contributing to the Scotland team’s success, as I firmly believe in our potential to thrive as a unit," Bruce remarked in a statement from Cricket Scotland.
"I briefly engaged with the setup in 2016, and it was an awesome experience. I played alongside and against many current Scotland players, enjoying their development over the years. I eagerly anticipate reuniting with them," he added.
"I want to aid the team in every possible way to ensure we play consistently high-quality cricket and ultimately reach a World Cup," he said.
Bruce first gained attention during the 2015-16 Super Smash, amassing 223 runs at a strike rate of 140.25 for Central Districts. Known for his innovative batting style, he followed up with another impressive season, earning a call-up to New Zealand's T20I squad for a series against Bangladesh. However, consistent success at the international level eluded him, totaling 279 runs in 17 T20I innings at a strike rate of 122.36, with two half-centuries.
"I'm thrilled to have Tom join our ranks. Not only is he a world-class cricketer, but he also brings a wealth of experience from extensive 50-over and T20 formats. He will be an invaluable asset both on and off the field in the years to come, and I look forward to integrating him into our team," said Scotland head coach Doug Watson.
Scotland will compete against Canada and Namibia in four matches in Ontario from August 29 to September 6, with games taking place at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club in King City, near Toronto.