Still just 24, Sarah Bryce seems far too young to have become battle-hardened by years of disappointment on the international front.
And yet, having made her full Scotland debut aged just 15 – big sister Kathryn achieved the same milestone at only 13 – Bryce has accumulated a near decade of falling just short when it comes to qualifying for major tournaments.
That is a lot of hardship on young shoulders but to her credit, Bryce’s optimism never wavered and now that positive thinking has paid off with Scotland’s women set to take their place on the biggest stage for the first time when the latest edition of the T20 World Cup gets underway in the UAE.
Bryce’s confidence wasn’t based on mere blind faith, however. The wicket-keeper/batter witnessed the growing number of her team-mates getting vital experience in competitive leagues all around the world alongside the growing professionalism of the game at home and could sense the progression. Few will deserve it more than these two sisters when Scotland open up their campaign against Bangladesh next week.
“I was definitely always hopeful we would qualify one day,” she says. “I remember that first qualifier back in 2015 and I think that really sparked that desire to make it to a World Cup.
“We've always believed that we would make it at some stage. It's difficult when you keep having those disappointments and not quite getting there.
“So to be able to make it this time was just absolutely incredible. A bit of relief in a way. But we definitely still had that belief that we were going to make it at some stage.
“I think the professionalism has definitely increased over the last few years. We've been really lucky with quite a good few of the girls being able to play domestic cricket down in England and the professionalism that comes with that.
“And then I think we just gelled really well as a squad. I think Craig [Wallace, head coach] did a great job of bringing us all together and really getting the best out of us.”
Their quest over the next few weeks goes up a substantial notch, however. As the only non-full member of the ICC [International Cricket Council] to have qualified for the 10-team tournament, Scotland have been placed in Group B alongside heavyweights South Africa, West Indies and England. That makes them serious underdogs but Bryce sees it as an opportunity rather than a hardship.
“It’s going to definitely be a different level than we play at usually,” she admits. “And I think that's going to be really exciting to see where we stand against those teams. Hopefully we can be really competitive and show where we're at facing some of the best teams in the world.
“The England versus Scotland game is obviously going to be an exciting one. It’s a bit of a classic rivalry, I guess. So we’re really looking forward to that game. I think that would just be really good fun.
“And also playing Bangladesh for your first game at your first World Cup is also going to be really special.
“But I think the most important thing is that we don't overcomplicate it. We’ve just got to keep doing what we've been doing and what's been bringing us success to get us here. It would be easy to go into the tournament and think we have to change this, that and the other. But actually, we've got here for a reason and we just got to keep doing what works for us.”
Both Bryce sisters can be considered genuine world-class talents with Kathryn ranked eighth in the global list for T20I all-rounders. Sarah was happy to pay tribute to her elder sibling.
“She’s developed a lot of experience over the years,” she adds. “And I think this year going to the WPL [Women’s Premier League in India] and getting to play in a tournament like that in very different conditions has really helped her, too.
“She’s gone from strength to strength this year. It’s just amazing to see how well she's done and how consistent she's been able to be. And hopefully she can keep that form going into the World Cup and help us win some games.”
