George Scott hoping Royal London Cup runs act as springboard for Gloucestershire career

The 25-year-old allrounder moved from Middlesex in 2019 and found it hard to make an impact during the Covid-reduced programme last season, averaging under 22 in six Bob Willis Trophy innings with a top score of 44 not out

George Scott is hoping this season’s Royal London Cup proves a passport to regular first team cricket with Gloucestershire.

The 25-year-old allrounder moved from Middlesex in 2019 and found it hard to make an impact during the Covid-reduced programme last season, averaging under 22 in six Bob Willis Trophy innings with a top score of 44 not out.

Scott was selected for only seven of 11 Vitality Blast matches last summer and this season was picked for just three, while appearing in four out of 10 County Championship fixtures.

But it has been a different story in the Royal London Cup, which has seen the product of the Middlesex academy make his career-best List A score of 64 against Essex at Bristol while averaging a healthy 43.

Now Scott is hoping a strong end to the 50-over campaign will see him feature in the four remaining Championship games next month.

Reflecting on his time with Gloucestershire so far, he admitted: “I would have liked to have played more at certain times. But there is competition for every place in the side and I knew that would be the case.

“There have been opportunities for me with the bat when I have not kicked on and got a score to nail down a position in the side. As a batsman, it is ideal to get a run of games and that hasn’t really happened for me up to this season’s Royal London Cup.

“I am hoping it will prove a breakthrough competition for me as far as my Gloucestershire career is concerned.”

^{George Scott joined Gloucestershire from Middlesex}

Scott, who rejected a new Middlesex contract to sign a three-year deal at the Bristol County Ground, offers no excuses for not making a better fist of his early games.

“I haven’t needed time to settle in because there is a great group of players here who have looked after me right from the start,” he said. “But staying in the side for a run of matches gives you confidence to play the way you want to and that has helped me in recent weeks.

“Getting out is not the end of the world because you know there is another game coming, instead of feeling like every one is a last chance.”

Scott does concede that the timing of his move to Gloucestershire proved unfortunate in view of the pandemic.

“Obviously, my first season here wasn’t ideal because we only played half the usual number of matches due to Covid,” he said. “My target is to be a first-team regular in all forms of the game, but I have to be patient because a lot of the other guys have been performing well.

“All I can do is keep racking up the scores. I consider myself a batsman who bowls a bit, so runs are the most important thing.”