Tom Bruce switches from New Zealand to Scotland ahead of CWCL2 Canada leg

Scotland will have a fresh yet familiar face in their line-up later this month as former New Zealand international Tom Bruce officially joins their national side. The 34-year-old top-order batter, who represented the Black Caps in 17 T20Is between 2017 and 2020, has qualified for Scotland through his Edinburgh-born father — and is set to make his debut for the Saltires in the Cricket World Cup League 2 (CWCL2) Canada leg, starting August 27.

From Scotland Development to New Zealand black cap… and back again

Bruce’s link to Scottish cricket is not new. Back in 2016, before breaking into the New Zealand set-up, he played for a Scotland Development side, rubbing shoulders with several cricketers who are now mainstays of the national team.

After that short stint, Bruce pursued his professional cricket in New Zealand, playing for Central Districts from 2014 onwards and cementing himself as one of domestic cricket’s most aggressive and innovative batters. His breakout came during the 2015-16 Super Smash, where he smashed 223 runs at a strike rate of 140.25. Another strong season in 2016-17 earned him a call-up to the New Zealand T20I squad to face Bangladesh.

New Zealand career: promise but mixed returns

While Bruce’s domestic form often caught the eye — including colossal innings such as his 345, the third-highest score in New Zealand first-class history — his international record was modest.

• T20Is played: 17 (2017–2020)

• Runs: 279

• Average: 18.6

• Strike rate: 122.36

• 50s: 2

Used mostly in the middle order, Bruce couldn’t quite translate his domestic dominance into lasting international success but remained a respected figure in New Zealand cricket, especially in the white-ball formats.

Why Scotland now

The decision to represent Scotland has been driven by both heritage and timing.

“There’s a long Scottish history within my family and I know they will be incredibly proud that I am representing Scotland,” Bruce said in a Cricket Scotland statement.
“I played in the set-up back in 2016 and it was an awesome experience. I’ve followed the progress of many of these players over the years. For me, the goal is to help the team play consistent, quality cricket and ultimately push for a World Cup spot.”

At 34, Bruce brings proven experience in T20 and List A cricket and crucially, the adaptability to slot into an evolving Scotland batting line-up.

Scotland coach’s view: experience and value off the field

Doug Watson, head coach of Scotland Men, welcomed Bruce’s inclusion:

“Tom is a world-class cricketer. He’s played a lot of 50-over and T20 cricket and will add massive value both on and off the field. I’m sure he’ll fit perfectly into this group.”

With Scotland pushing for qualification in the next ICC global events, Watson sees Bruce’s wealth of professional cricket exposure — from domestic New Zealand seasons to T20 leagues like the Global Super League in Guyana — as a significant boost to the squad’s depth and confidence.

What Bruce brings to the Saltires

His adaptability could prove especially valuable in League 2, where conditions vary sharply from Canada to Asia, and where Scotland will often face spin-heavy attacks.

Debut timeline and looking ahead

Bruce is expected to make his Scotland debut in the CWCL2 Canada leg from August 27. His inclusion comes at a crucial stage in the qualification cycle, where every point counts towards securing a place at the next Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

For Bruce, this is a career chapter that ties together his roots and his passion to play international cricket at the highest available stage, while for Scotland, it’s a reinforcement of their batting order with a player who blends power, creativity, and hard-earned experience.