Preston Mommsen - Scotland - Batsman

Preston Mommsen is a South Africa-born Scottish cricketer, who had earlier represented South Africa at the Under-19 level.

Mommsen attended the Gordonstoun School in Moray, Scotland, and proceeded to play for the Kent second team. After moving permanently to Edinburgh, he qualified for the Scottish National Team by the virtue of living in the country for over four years. He later became eligible to play the 2011 season for Scotland, after playing at the Club level. He was subsequently selected in the CB40 squad and hit two fifties on trot, finishing with an impressive average of 62.2 after 7 games. He ended the season with 408 runs under his belt at an average of 58.28.

Mommsen scored his first international ton against Namibia in a four-day game at Windhoek. In June 2013, he was named as the captain to take on Australia 'A' in the First-Class game in Edinburgh. A pelvis injury forced him out of Scotland's 2013 World T20 qualifying campaign and the team failed to bag a place in the main tournament.

He came back into the ODI side for the World Cup Qualifiers in January 2014. He captained Scotland in the absence of Kyle Coetzer, who flew home due to an injury. Mommsen was brilliant in his leadership and led by example, scoring 520 runs in the tournament at an average of 86.66. His second century helped Scotland secure an emphatic 41-run win over UAE in the final of the qualifiers. He was named the ICC Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year on the back of this magnificent performance. Despite Coetzer's return to the side after the qualifiers, Mommsen was confirmed as Scotland's captain for their 2015 World Cup campaign.

By Sonali Dhulap