Matt Machan - England - Batting Allrounder

English-born Matt Machan qualified to play for Scotland because of his Scottish mother. Prior to that he was involved in age-group cricket from a young age. He played for Sussex in the Under-13 side.

Machan has been praised for his eye-catching stroke-play and handy off-spin. His dedication and improving performances helped him get firmly established with Sussex. He scored his maiden ton for them in 2013 against Somerset. He was awarded with Sussex's Young Player of the Year award in 2013, and subsequently a new contract. He has become an integral part of the county team after churning out several good performances, especially in limited overs cricket.

Machan made his ODI debut for Scotland in 2012 against Afghanistan. In only his fourth ODI, he hit a scintillating hundred against Kenya. Since then, he never looked back. In the World Cup Qualifiers of 2014, he played a vital role in Scotland's run of seven successive wins. Later in October 2014, Machan hit an aggressive 83 against a strong New Zealand XI.

Interesting fact: Machan is a qualified personal trainer and a huge fan of greyhound racing.

by Sonali Dhulap