BRANDON McMULLEN will enjoy his traditional South African Christmas dinner with side servings of gratitude and satisfaction. This has been a three-month period to remember for the 23 year-old from Durban who was named in Scotland’s T20 World Cup squad before going on to make his senior international debut in the recent World Cricket League 2 series in Namibia.
Not just content with easing his way into things, McMullen instead made an instant name for himself as Scotland won three of their four matches against the hosts and Nepal to book their place at next summer’s World Cup Qualifier. The all-rounder finished with a batting average of 119, dismissed just once in his three innings, while also claiming eight wickets with the ball. Not a bad start at all.
With Namibia just across the border, McMullen took the opportunity once the series had concluded to head home to visit family and friends for an extended winter break. There will be plenty for him to talk about around the Christmas dinner table this year.
“This has been a massive breakthrough year for me – or more like a breakthrough three months,” he admits. “Everything happened really quickly with being selected for the World Cup which I didn’t expect and then the Namibia trip. It’s been an awesome experience and I’ve loved every minute of it so far.
“I never played in any of the games at the World Cup but just to be at that stage and to experience it with the team was something I had never even dreamed of. So there are no mixed feelings at all about not featuring.
“And then to go to Namibia shortly afterwards to represent Scotland for the first time was incredible. I was happy with how I played and to help the team win three of the games was really special. It’s hard to find the words just to sum up how much that all meant to me.
“I’m officially classed as a batting all-rounder but I’m just as comfortable either batting or bowling. I’m versatile enough to bat anywhere from opener down to number 7 and with the ball I can bowl with the new one and swing it up top or throughout the innings. I’m ready to go whenever.
“Chris Sole and Safyaan Sharif definitely helped me with my bowling in Namibia. And Richie Berrington and Kyle Coetzer have backed us youngsters to come through and do our thing.
“It’s exciting to see myself, Chris McBride, Tom Mackintosh and others coming through the system and getting our chance. It shows that Scottish cricket is moving in the right direction.”
McMullen isn’t sure exactly why he decided to head to Scotland a few years ago to try to advance his cricket career but is glad that he did. Enrolling at the University of Stirling to study sports and psychology – he is now in his final year – his performances with Stirling County and Western Warriors helped catch the eye of the selectors and head coach Shane Burger, culminating in his elevation to the Scotland A squad and then full team on grounds of residency.
“I was 18, straight out of school, when I first came across to Scotland,” he reveals. “I just wanted a brand new start and thought that could be the place for me to play some cricket. And I just fell in love with the country from the moment I arrived.
“It had always been a dream of mine to play international cricket and that has arrived now through working hard at club cricket and regional level over the years. So I’m really grateful that Scotland came around and they have given me that opportunity.”
Having a fellow South African in Burger as head coach has helped too, the pair reunited following their days together at KwaZulu-Natal.
“I went to school at Hilton College which is in the KZN area and when I was there he was the head coach of their men’s team,” McMullen revealed. “So I crossed paths with him a few times in my younger days. It’s funny that we’re now back working together again. He’s an excellent coach and mentor.”
McMullen won’t be back in Scotland for a few more weeks yet and with the temperature set to peak at 28C in Durban on Christmas Day, who can blame him.
“I get back around once a year, normally around this time just to spend Christmas with the family,” he adds. “It’s been raining a fair bit since I got here but Christmas Day is expected to be nice and warm so it will be a day around the pool with a big feast and a few drinks. We’ll have a traditional turkey but also a roast lamb and other meats, with the barbecue going most of the day. It’s not a bad way to spend Christmas at all.”
