One hesitates to criticise a cricketer with such a whole-hearted attitude as Gordon Drummond. Whatever the state of any match, irrespective of the conditions or travails of his team mates,  Drummond has been a rock.
But eventually, rocks have to roll and  it is surely time to ask whether the 33-year-old still merits his place in the side. Perhaps, within the confines of the dressing room, he has the capacity to ooze Churchillian rhetoric and inspire his troops through the majesty of his oratory.  Which would be good.
But the reality is that he sure as hell isn't doing it on the pitch.

In Drummond's last five matches for his  country, there is a common theme which I don't need to spell out.

Let's just list the figures: 0-19 and 0-16 against Afghanistan in the two T20s from the last few days; 0-17 against Somerset, 1-15 against Bangladesh and 0-39 against Notts. Which adds up to a grand tally of one for 106, allied to the fact that he offered nothing with the bat in all these contests either.

The problem is that Drummond is a good, old-fashioned player of the bulldog variety. He isn't going to improve, nor does he possess the ability to switch gears.

Most of his predecessors were in a slightly more exalted class. Craig Wright bristled with purpose and menace and could have waltzed into several English county squads had he so desired; Ryan Watson had an ability to seize matches by the scruff of the neck and adapt them to his all-conquering mould; and Gavin Hamilton was....well he was Gavin Hamilton, wasn't he!

Sadly, Drummond isn't in their league. Indeed, he doesn't deserve to be in the starting XI for the WCL games against the Afghanis. If I was picking the side, I would go for: Mommsen (captain), Haq (vice-captain), Berrington, Coetzer, Davey, Goudie, Machan, MacLeod, Murphy,  Wardlaw and, of course, Neil Carter. Next up would be Safyaan Sharif.

Then , maybe, Moneeb Iqbal.

Hopefully, on the basis that we all want the Scots to be successful, Drummond will have produced a scintillating spell of four for 12 against the Afghanis in the opening WCL tussle by the time you read this.

It definitely couldn't happen to a more decent individual: somebody who has been a pillar of positivity amidst the often frenetic events of the last three years.

But the trouble is that the Scots need to move on and if Drummond isn't worth a place in their best side, he shouldn't be in the team, end of story. The fact that his selection  isn't even being queried hints at the complacency and/or bafflement which threatens to leave the Scots withering on the vine.