Calum MacLeod won a place in Scottish sport folklore when he struck the century that helped Scotland beat England in a one-day international in Edinburgh in 2018. His 140 not out against a side ranked No 1 in the world in ODIs left England shaken and was regarded in Scotland - and for that matter in many places beyond - as suitable punishment for the ECB which had successfully lobbied for a 10-team World Cup on home soil in 2019 from which Scotland were excluded.

His father (Cricket Scotland's photographer Donald MacLeod) did not even think it was his best Scotland innings, pointing instead to an unbeaten 157 against Afghanistan earlier in the year in a World Cup qualifier in Bulawayo, when he expertly dealt with the talented leg spinner Rashid Khan, liberally employing a sweep shot that he put down to his time spent playing hockey.

Two centuries in succession for MacLeod in January 2014 - a 62-ball 113 against the UAE and 175 against Canada - played a major part in Scotland's qualification for the 2015 World Cup. In many ways MacLeod was a surprising poster boy for Scottish cricket. He has roots in the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, from where his grandfather moved to Glasgow. When he acted as a substitute fielder for England in an Ashes Test in 2009 he became the first Gaelic speaker to appear in a Test - he was once banned from speaking Gaelic on the field because an umpire deemed it unfair to the other players.

MacLeod's hopes of forging a county career as a fast bowler fell apart in 2009 when his action was reported by the umpires after an Intercontinental Cup match. Remedial work followed, including sessions with the former South Africa quick Allan Donald, then bowling coach at Warwickshire, but he was released by the county in 2010.

Nevertheless, hours spent watching the preparations of Warwickshire's England duo, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott, proved to be of benefit. Cricket Scotland had introduced player contracts at the end of 2008, and gradually MacLeod, who had briefly wondered about taking up hockey, surprised everyone by forcing his way into the side as a batsman.

Paul Collingwood, who was added to Scotland's coaching ranks as they qualified for the World Cup, was so impressed that Durham gave him a contract on Collingwood's advice. That was initially just as a T20 player, but MacLeod was swiftly given a permanent contract and ended his first season back in county cricket by winning the Royal London One-Day Cup. Financial cutbacks led to the wothdrawal of his contract in 2016.

It was Derbyshire who called up his T20 services in 2018 following his banishing of the English - he had also been playing in the Kent League - and they benefited from a 58-ball hundred against Northants.

ESPNcricinfo staff