A memorable encounter with Virat Kohli has left Michael Jones hungry for more as the Scottish batter prepares for his latest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup appearance.
Top-order batter Jones is hoping Scotland can upset the odds in Group A, with the previous two champions, Australia and England, for company in the West Indies.
This will be Jones’ third taste of the T20 big time and he will be calling upon a memorable conversation with the India captain as he seeks to steer Scotland into the Super 8s.
“At the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai, I had the chance to chat with Virat and KL Rahul after our game against India and they were really nice guys,” recalled Jones.
“When you walk into the India dressing room as a Scotland player, especially after the defeat we had, it can be a bit daunting.
You wonder if these guys really want to be mixing with us, but they came across like really normal people that are obviously very talented and have worked extremely hard, but also just nice guys, which was amazing.
“A bunch of us ended up chatting to Kohli and, at the time, I couldn’t believe I was having a batting chat with arguably one of the best to ever do it.
He was talking us through the way he trains, his organisation, the way he visualises innings, and what shots he’s going to play to different bowlers.
“We all walked away from that conversation wanting to have a net. It was pretty cool and good on him for having that conversation.”
Jones’ ambitions of playing international cricket can be traced back to when he was 16 and sent off an email to Cricket Scotland declaring his eligibility, qualifying through mom Dianne, who was born in Aberdeen.
The 26-year-old was part of the squad which reached the Super 12s in 2021 and starred in a famous win over the West Indies last time out, yet Jones is determined to ensure that heightened expectations do not stop the kid within from soaking up the occasion.
“I remember watching Scotland on the TV in some sort of World Cup and thinking, ‘I would like to be involved in that,’” said Jones.
“At that time I was playing second XI at Lancashire and it felt a little bit far away, so getting in touch with the Scotland guys is the best thing I ever did.
“To go to another World Cup is unbelievable. How many people grow up dreaming of playing in a World Cup?
To do it against England and Australia in Barbados of all places, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Sight-seeing is high on Jones’ agenda for his first trip to the Caribbean, with ‘Watty’s Tours’, courtesy of spinner Mark Watts, expected to provide entertainment and culture in equal measure.
On the pitch, it feels like the start of a new era for Scotland with Doug Watson having assumed head coach duties on a permanent basis, and stalwart and former captain Kyle Coetzer now retired.
Jones has already shown a penchant for the big occasion, slamming 87 on his ODI debut against Ireland and a 55-ball 86 against the same opponents on just his second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup start, and insists he is now ready for the challenge of taking on the world’s best.
“I enjoy it when the pressure is on,” he added. “There are not really any bigger games than playing against England and Australia.
“There are no guarantees of a good performance, but I certainly like playing in big games.
It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and if we can make it through, it would be absolutely amazing for everyone.”
