Kirstie Gordon has confirmed she will once again make herself available for Scotland, ending a six-year spell on England’s books and giving head coach Craig Wallace another experienced option ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup qualifying push.
The 28-year-old left-arm spinner, born in Huntly and now captain of the Blaze in England’s regional structure, last played for Scotland in 2017. A move to Loughborough Lightning, then an England call-up for the 2018 T20 World Cup and the 2019 Ashes Test, pulled her south. The lure of home has proved stronger this time.
“It’s always been in the back of my mind in the last couple of years to return to Scotland, and it has helped having Craig Wallace [Scotland head coach] in my ear! He’s been on the phone a few times and I feel like I’ve really connected with him and his vision for the team. If you couple that with the chance to play again with two of my best mates in Kathryn and Sarah [the Bryce sisters, her team-mates at Blaze], it feels like it’s the right moment to come home,” Gordon said in a Cricket Scotland release.
She remains in rehabilitation for a back issue picked up late last summer but expects to be ready for the start of the 2026 domestic season. Selection for Scotland can follow as soon as fitness allows.
A teenage debut and the long route back
Gordon first turned out for Scotland at 14 and stacked up 60 appearances before pausing her Saltires career. She admits the professional set-up in England was simply too good an opportunity to ignore at the time.
“I made my Scotland debut very young, and I was fortunate to go to the first global qualifiers in Thailand in 2015, so I had some awesome experiences with Scotland at that time, but I was really keen to try and take my cricketing career as far as I could,” she said.
“Going to Loughborough for university, the opportunities and avenues to play at a higher level really opened up from there. I eventually decided to stop my Scotland career and become a local player in order to play for Loughborough Lightning.”
“I guess I did that while not really knowing what the prospects were, but I then was selected for England at the World Cup in the West Indies. It was probably always on my radar that I wanted to play at the highest level, so I absolutely loved it, and I’m really grateful for those opportunities.”
England’s depth has since grown, particularly in the spin department, and Gordon has not featured internationally since 2019. Scotland, by contrast, are on an upward curve after winning the Europe qualifier in style earlier this year, and Wallace is keen to fold Gordon’s know-how into a largely youthful squad.
“It’s exciting to hear Kirstie is now available for selection for Scotland and we are delighted to welcome her back home. She’s obviously a top-class player and an excellent person and having got to know her I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with her,” Wallace said.
“I think the most pleasing thing about her decision is that it shows the strength of our squad, that somebody of Kirstie’s ability is wanting to come and challenge to compete for a place in the team. We have created a strong group and culture on and off the pitch, and it’s fantastic that she wants to join it and be part of the journey.”
What it means for Scotland
Left-arm spin offers variety most associate nations covet, and Gordon’s Hundred experience with Trent Rockets should help in pressure moments. Assuming full fitness, she is likely to contest a front-line bowling spot and provide leadership support to skipper Kathryn Bryce.
Short-term, Gordon’s signing off on Scotland duty is more psychological than tactical; the squad fly to Nepal in January 2026 for the global qualifier, and her race against time to be match-ready will be close. Longer term, Scotland gain a player versed in professional rhythms, useful as they chase their first senior World Cup berth.
For Gordon, the switch completes a full circle: from precocious Scottish debutant to England international and back home, older and, she hopes, better.
