Michael Leask’s desire to help Scotland succeed on the global stage will never wane – because of the sacrifices he’s made to represent his country.
The Saltires begin their T20 Cricket World Cup campaign against England on Tuesday (3.30pm) at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
It is the fourth T20 World Cup in succession Scotland have qualified for, and Aberdonian Leask, who started his career with Stoneywood-Dyce, has performed at all three.
The powerful middle order batter and off-spinner made his international debut in 2013.
But he admits there was a time when he came close to turning his back on playing cricket at the highest level.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Leask received jobs offers away from the sport and admits they would have provided greater financial security than cricket.
But with the support of his wife Anna, the 33-year-old emerged post-Covid with a renewed determination to succeed and to earn a living to support his family.
Tough decision has paid off
Leask said: “There was a point in my career where I wasn’t playing as well as I wanted and I had to go away and work hard.
“During Covid, there was a period where it was a case of was cricket the right thing?
“There was a point where cricket at any level potentially wasn’t on the cards for me.
“There were job offers on the table, but when I came back to my cricket stuff and changing some things during Covid that, told me I wasn’t done with the game.
“I spoke to Anna, and I said: ‘No matter what I get paid from cricket we’re going to make it work for us as a family.’
“Since then the last three years have probably been the best I’ve had in a Scotland shirt, which means the sacrifices were worth it.
“We went through a difficult period and things got a little bit tough at times in terms of money.
“But that’s what I had to do to keep the Scotland badge on my chest, which is what I want to do.
“I’ve played for Scotland for 11 years and I don’t want to lose that feeling.
“I would have been better off financially taking one of the jobs I was offered – it would have given us security as a family.
“But between myself and my wife, we had enough trust that it would work.
“We had the belief it was going to work. We gave it a year and the work offer was still on the table.
“There were things we had to do to make it work and it’s all led to where we are now and the hunger I’ve got to still do well for Scotland.
“With what we’ve given up to play for Scotland, that hunger to do well is never going to disappear.”
Family has changed outlook
Leask admits having a family to provide for has changed his approach to cricket.
His wife, his children – three-year-old Ivy and eight-month-old Harris – and mother Hilda have all made the trip to the Caribbean to support him during the World Cup.
Leask added: “Everyone will have sacrifices they make in life that make sense to them.
“That’s what gives you a hunger and is what has driven me in the last three years to try to make it work for my wife and family.
“When you’re doing well, it makes it more enjoyable – but it also keeps you grounded because you know there’s a bigger picture.
“In the past, I was very up and down and probably a bit cocky and naive.
“Now I understand there are bigger things in life than just cricket.
“I’ve got a family now, which makes a big difference.
“Ultimately cricket is my work, and if I don’t perform, I’m putting my work on the line.”
Happy memories as Scots seek another shock
Looking ahead to the prospect of facing England, Leask is optimistic Scotland can stun the Auld Enemy again.
In 2018, the Saltires defeated England for the first time, albeit in the 50-over format, and seven of that 11 – including Leask – are in the squad for this tournament.
Four years prior to that at Mannofield, Leask was the star of the show in defeat against the same opposition as he blasted 42 off 16 balls.
In the T20 format, Leask also takes encouragement from victories over established nations like the West Indies and Bangladesh in the last two World Cups.
He said: “We relish this game. We’ve got the opportunity to take on a very good England side and I don’t see why we can’t cause an upset.
“To us it wouldn’t really be an upset because we’ve done it before. So why can’t we go and do it again?
“We need to have the same belief that we can do what we’ve done in the past. We know we’re capable of beating big teams.
“We’ve got guys with good memories of playing and beating England – okay it’s a few years ago, but why can’t we go and do something again?
“We know what we can bring on the day and they might underestimate us.
“I don’t think we can be taken lightly in this tournament.
“Any time you do well against a major nation, it gives you a boost.
“We’ve got memories and things to go back to, so if we’re in a tough period we can get ourselves out it.
“Using 2018 or 2014 – or any of those sort of days – as inspiration will help you.”
Who else do Scotland play?
After the game against England, Scotland meet Namibia in Bridgetown on Thursday, Oman at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Sunday and Australia at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia a week on Saturday.
The top two in the group will qualify for the Super Eight stage of the tournament.
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