Australia and Scotland will lock horns in a three-match T20I series starting Wednesday, September 4. All the matches will be played at the Grange Cricket Club in Edinburgh. Edinburgh is all set to host the much-anticipated T20I series opener between Scotland and Australia at the Grange Cricket Club in Edinburgh on Wednesday, September 4. The home team will be eager to kick off the series with a bang, while the visitors will aim to settle in and showcase their brilliance.
Australia have given rest to some of their key players and have gone with youngsters to prepare for the next T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, Scotland have a great chance to host and challenge a strong team like Australia and try to win at least one game to prove their worth at this level.
AUS vs SCO Previous Performances
After two poor performances in the space of 48 hours dumped Australia out of the T20 World Cup earlier this year having previously been unbeaten, they are back in action with an eye to building towards the next event in 2026 with three-matches series against Scotland and England. David Warner has retired and other senior players are missing for a variety of reasons meaning there is a fresh look to the squad.
This is the first international assignment for both Australia and Scotland after the T20 World Cup 2024.Australia lost their last match against India, and crashed out of the tournament. Scotland’s last fixture at the ICC event was against Australia.
AUS vs SCO Head to Head
Matches: 1 Australia won: 1 Scotland won: 0. The Only Match played between Australia and Scotland in the recently concluded T20I World Cup which Australia won thanks to heroics by all rounder Marcus Stoinis.
- Total Matches: 1
- Australia: 1
- Scotland: 0
- Draw: 0
AUS vs SCO Pitch Report
Grange Cricket Club is a flat deck, and it is a batting paradise, which has good help for the batting side. It is a small venue, and batters can enjoy the small boundaries all around, and the fast outfield makes it tough to contain the batters. The pitch at Grange Cricket Club is a batter’s dream, with runs often flowing thick and fast. Historically, the average first innings score here has been a solid 170, giving a clear indication that the bowlers will have their work cut out for them.
Pacers, in particular, will need to be on their toes, as any missteps will be costly. Spinners, however, could come into play in the second innings as the pitch begins to slow down. Teams batting first have found success more often at this venue, with 16 wins out of 24 T20I matches. As a result, the captain winning the toss will likely opt to bat first.
As per AccuWeather it will be bright and sunny in Edinburgh on Wednesday, September 4. There are no chances of rain, and the temperature will hover around 14 degree Celsius. The wind speed at the venue will be close to 9 km/h.
AUS vs SCO Big Picture : An opening bat-off as Australia prepares for 2026 setup
All eyes will be on Jake Fraser-McGurk. But it’s worth remembering that for all the talk he has generated around the world over the last six months or so, he has yet to make his T20I debut. That will come at some point over the next six matches, but there is no guarantee it will always be in the opening position. Australia are expected to look at a few options as they ponder life after Warner.
It’s been an interesting winter for Fraser-McGurk after shooting to prominence in the IPL for Delhi Capitals following his ODI debut against West Indies last season where he batted as though it was T20s. He was a traveling reserve for the T20 World Cup amid plenty of discussion that he should have been in the main squad, which wasn’t damped by Australia’s Super Eight exit, even if who he would have replaced was never really answered. Then he struggled for runs in the MLC where he made 81 in seven innings for San Francisco Unicorns.
It could be that captain Mitchell Marsh partners Travis Head at the top and then the order is built from there. It’s conceivable that over six matches there are six different batting orders. Cameron Green is another option after the success he has previously had at the top of the order, although he expanded his finishing game in the IPL.
It’s a curious statistic that among Nathan Ellis’ 25 international appearances to date, only one of them has been at home – a T20I against England in 2022 where he took 3 for 20 in a total of 208 for 6. That will surely change come the November white-ball series against Pakistan, but for now it continues to be on the road where his opportunities come. And this tour represents a chance for him to take the lead in an attack where, through little fault of his own, he has often felt like an understudy.
Ellis’ numbers, particularly in T20Is, suggest he could have had more chances than have come his way. He played four matches at this year’s World Cup, but only when one of the big three was rested. Now, with Josh Hazlewood’s withdrawal from the Scotland series, he is the Australia’s most experienced quick.
It will be interesting to see which phases of the game he is used in. His reputation has been built on being a superb death bowler, but it’s understood that Australia have highlighted their powerplay bowling as an area that needs work. At the last two T20 World Cups crucial defeats by New Zealand (in Sydney) and India (in St Lucia) have come on the back of being dominated by the opposition batters in the first six overs, while against Afghanistan it took them 15.5 overs to break the opening stand.
The swing of Xavier Bartlett will be an option while the pace of Riley Meredith has replaced Hazlewood in the squad. Green will likely have a role with the ball as well in the first six and don’t be surprised to see Australia try and squeeze in an over of spin from someone other than Adam Zampa. But with six matches in 12 days, expect everyone to be given a chance at some stage.
One of the significant personnel changes after the T20 World Cup is that Josh Inglis will now get a run as wicketkeeper although the selectors have not yet put a line through Matthew Wade. One of the consequences of Wade not being there, along with Warner’s retirement, is that Australia have lost two left-handers. It was a factor that played in the favour of Cooper Connolly’s selection.
All Inglis’ T20I innings have come in the top five and he struck 110 off 50 balls against India in Visakhapatnam last year batting at No. 3. However, it could be that he slots more directly into Wade’s position lower down as a finisher as Australia assess their options at that crucial, and fiendishly difficult, part of the batting order. Marcus Stoinis had an impressive group stage of the T20 World Cup at No. 5, but there may be consideration given as to where Tim David bats, particularly in the absence of Glenn Maxwell.
If one area cost Australia in the Caribbean, it was the fielding. They had a horror day against Afghanistan with five drops and other misfields which came off the back of a poor display against Scotland. They will want to significantly sharpen up. The inclusion of a couple of younger names in Fraser-McGurk and Connolly should help, both in terms of skill and energy. Green and Aaron Hardie, who are yet to command regular places in the T20 side, are also good in the field as is Sean Abbott, a late addition after Spencer Johnson’s injury.
AUS vs SCO Team News and Playing XI.
Scotland
In the batting department, Scotland will be banking on the experience and flair of players like George Munsey, skipper Richie Berrington, Brandon McMullen, Charlie Tear, Michael Leask, and wicketkeeper Matthew Cross to score big runs.
George Munsey, in particular, has been Scotland’s batting sensation since the start of 2024. In nine matches, he has piled up 330 runs at a solid average of 41.25, including two half-centuries. When it comes to bowling, Scotland will rely on a combination of pace and spin to rattle Australia’s lineup. Leading the attack will be Bradley Currie, Charlie Cassell, Michael Leask, Christopher Sole, Safyaan Sharif, and slow left-arm spinner Mark Watt.
Watt has been the pick of the bowlers for Scotland in 2024, with 11 wickets in nine matches at an impressive economy rate of 6.56. His ability to turn the screws on opposition batters will be crucial, especially on a pitch that could offer some assistance to spinners later in the game.
Scotland Playing XI : George Munsey, Charlie Tear, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington (c), Matthew Cross (wk.), Michael Leask, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Bradley Currie, Charlie Cassell, Christopher Sole.
Australia
Australia, with their explosive batting lineup, will look to hit the ground running. Travis Head will be tasked with setting the tone at the top with Jake Fraser-McGurk. Wicketkeeper Jos Inglis, captain Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis are expected to provide the firepower in the middle order.
All-rounders Cameron Green and Aaron Hardie will add depth to the batting, making Australia’s lineup a tough nut to crack. On the bowling front, pacers Riley Meredith and Xavier Bartlett, along with the experience of Adam Zampa, and Nathan Ellis, will be looking to make early inroads and keep Scotland on a tight leash.
Australia Playing XI : Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mitchell Marsh (c), Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis (wk.), Aaron Hardie, Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Riley Meredith.
AUS vs SCO Fantasy XI : George Munsey, Brandon McMullen, Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mitchell Marsh, Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Cross (wk.), Michael Leask, Christopher Sole, Riley Meredith
AUS vs SCO Match Prediction
Considering the overall experience and formidable squad, Australia are the favourites to win this clash. Australia are the superior team of two and they have a number of big names on their side. That’s why we predict Australia to win here.