Cricket Scotland appointed Gloucester batting coach Owen Dawkins as men’s head coach with former national captain Gordon Drummond taking over as his assistant.
The pair take the reins leading into qualifying for the 2027 ICC world cup, the next T20 world cup cycle and with cricket poised to enter the Olympics in 2028.
Dawkins, who succeeds Doug Watson who stepped down in September, was part of the coaching team that helped Gloucestershire win the T20 Blast for the first time in 2024, and as an ECB Level 4 coach is one of the most qualified cricket coaches in the UK.
Importantly, he has a deep knowledge of Scottish cricket gained from his work as a consultant coach to Cricket Scotland in various roles since 2018, including with the men’s senior team during the 2024 Tri-Series with Australia, as Assistant Coach of Scotland Men’s U19 squad, and with the women’s senior squad. Owen has also worked with Auckland Cricket and served as head coach for MCC on several tours, including their most recent to Zimbabwe in October.
Gordon Drummond, who is currently Cricket Scotland’s Head of Performance Pathways, is a member of the Cricket Scotland Hall of Fame as well as an ex-national captain.
During his playing career, Gordon won 117 caps between 2007 and 2014 and captained the national team on 67 occasions.
In coaching, he has served as head coach of Scotland Men’s U19 squad and worked with the men’s and women’s senior teams in ICC World Cup qualifying tournaments.
An ECB Level 4 Coach and an ICC and ECB Coaching tutor, Gordon has run the Pathways since 2018, creating and maintaining a detailed structure for the best young men’s and women’s players in Scotland, and he is internationally renowned as an expert in player development and the transitioning to senior squads.
Owen Dawkins said: “I am truly honoured and incredibly excited to be appointed as Scotland men’s head coach.
“Over the past eight years, I’ve had the privilege of working with Scotland in a variety of roles – supporting the men’s first team, the A team, the academy, and the Under-19s across the last three World Cup cycles, as well as contributing to the coach education programme. These experiences have given me a strong understanding of where we currently stand and how, as a squad, we can continue to move forward.
“Representing your country is a remarkable opportunity, and as a coaching team we will work tirelessly with our players to help them perform at their very best and make the nation proud. One of my main ambitions is for this team to inspire every player in Scotland to dream of wearing the national colours.
“We are fortunate to have several experienced, successful players who know what it takes to succeed at this level, alongside a group of talented young players at the beginning of their journeys. It’s vital that everyone pulls together so we can reach the success we’re capable of.
“As a coaching team, we are also committed to developing a broader talent pool – one that continually challenges and elevates the standards of the current squad. This is the start of a fantastic journey, and I can’t wait to get to work with the team.”
Gordon Drummond said: “I’m honoured and thrilled to be given this opportunity to become Assistant Coach to the Scotland Men’s National team.
“The team has enjoyed much success in recent years, and I’m keen to help them continue to build on that; at the same time, I’m excited about looking at ways in which we can continue to develop and improve what is a quality group of players.
“I’m really looking forward to working with an exceptional and experienced coach in Owen and feel it’s a partnership that will provide the players what they require to be successful at the top level.”
Steve Snell, Cricket Scotland Head of Performance, said: “I’m really pleased with the appointments we’ve made of Owen and Gordon, and I think they will bring an excellent blend of skills, experience and knowledge into the men’s international setup.
“Owen has extensive experience of transitioning and improving players in a professional setting. Having him here in Scotland on a fulltime basis will be very advantageous to our players, not only those currently in the national squad but also those challenging to break into it. He has a strong knowledge base here already through the work he’s done across three U19 World Cup qualifying cycles with our squads, as well as in Scottish domestic cricket, and that will stand him and us in good stead.”
“Gordon lives and breathes Scottish cricket and brings a magnificent pedigree with what he’s achieved in his career as a player and coach. He is very emotionally intelligent, he’s brought through some of the current senior squad via the Pathway, and we expect the combination between him and Owen to provide strong tactical and cultural acumen, as well as a real strong connection to the Pathway.
“I’m confident that this new coaching team will set Scottish cricket up for success not just in the present but in the future, and I’m really looking forward to the impact they will make.”
