After spending years on the fringes of England’s setup, Kirstie Gordon is set for an international return with Scotland at the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, completing a remarkable comeback story that has brought her career full circle.
Cricket Scotland confirmed its 15-player squad for the tournament on May 11, with captain Kathryn Bryce leading the side into their second consecutive Women’s T20 World Cup appearance. Among the biggest talking points was the inclusion of Gordon, the experienced left-arm spinner who previously represented England in international cricket before switching back to Scotland eligibility.
Now 28, Gordon last played international cricket in 2019 and has not featured for Scotland since the 2017 NatWest T20 Cup. Her return comes after several strong domestic seasons in England, where she has continued to establish herself as one of the most reliable slow bowlers on the county circuit.
Gordon played five T20Is and one Test for England between 2018 and 2019 during a period when the side was experimenting with spin options in white-ball cricket. Although her stint with England was brief, she remained a consistent performer domestically and rebuilt her career through regional cricket and franchise competitions.
Her recent form has strengthened her case for an international recall. During the 2025 Women’s Hundred, Gordon claimed 11 wickets in eight matches for Trent Rockets while maintaining an economy rate of 7.71, underlining her ability to contain batters in high-pressure T20 situations. Earlier this year, she also impressed in England’s domestic 50-over competition, taking eight wickets in five One-Day Cup matches for The Blaze in April.
Scotland head coach Craig Wallace believes Gordon’s experience can play an important role for a developing Scottish side preparing for another global tournament. “We have multiple world-class players in this team, and Kirstie is definitely one of them,” Wallace said following the squad announcement.
“We welcome her involvement in the group and expect her to drive our standards up even more and help us to improve Scottish cricket. I’m looking forward to working with her and helping her enhance her own skills as well.” Gordon qualifies for Scotland through family heritage and had represented the country before her England call-up nearly a decade ago.
Scotland’s squad balances experience and youth as they prepare for a difficult Group B campaign. Alongside Gordon and Bryce, the squad includes wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce, spinner Abtaha Maqsood and all-rounder Katherine Fraser. Youngsters Gabriella Fontenla, Pippa Sproul and uncapped fast bowler Maisie Maceira were also included after impressing at Under-19 level.
The Scots face a challenging group featuring hosts England, Ireland, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies. Their tournament begins against Ireland at Old Trafford on June 13. Before the World Cup, Scotland will host Bangladesh and the Netherlands in a T20I tri-series in Edinburgh, marking the national side’s first home women’s fixtures since 2022. The series is expected to provide valuable preparation ahead of the global event.
The World Cup for Kirstie Gordon represents something more personal, a second opportunity at international cricket after years away from the top level. Having once worn England colours, she now returns to the global stage with Scotland, bringing experience, control and a renewed sense of purpose to a side eager to continue its rise in women’s cricket.
Scotland Women’s Squad for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Kathryn Bryce (C), Chloe Abel, Olivia Bell, Sarah Bryce, Darcey Carter, Priyanaz Chatterji, Gabriella Fontenla, Katherine Fraser, Kirstie Gordon, Ailsa Lister, Maisie Maceira, Abtaha Maqsood, Megan McColl, Rachel Slater, Pippa Sproul
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