The circle of life: Tom Bruce's long road to Scotland

Tom Bruce and India are no strangers. The 34-year-old first visited with New Zealand in 2017 and later led a New Zealand A team there in 2022.

More significantly, a 2013 trip to India set his cricketing journey in motion. Training at Bengaluru's Jain Academy for three weeks with fellow Kiwis, including Will Young, ignited his passion for the game.

"I was a late bloomer to professional cricket," Bruce tells Cricbuzz. "I started at 23. A trip to India with my local coach, Debu Banik, really ignited my passion and made me want to give cricket a proper go."

The following year, Bruce made the Central Stags team. He also had an eye on Scotland through his father's Scottish roots. Conversations began with then-head coach Grant Bradburn, but a standdown period deferred those plans.

A New Zealand cap came in 2017 on the back of his T20 match-winning reputation at home. He played 17 T20Is over the next three years.

"Unfortunately, at the time I didn't do myself or my talent justice," he says. "I was probably trying to be someone I wasn't. Since 2020, I've played much better cricket. I've gotten better with age and experience."

With a burning desire to play international cricket retained, Bruce earned his second shot in 2025, becoming one of the game's latest dual internationals for Scotland.

"At the time, Doug Watson was the coach when we talked about switching allegiances," Bruce relates. "We earmarked this T20 World Cup, the 2027 ODI World Cup, and the 2028 T20 World Cup. Three World Cups in three years would be pretty special. It's been nice having a change. It was unfortunate we originally missed out on this tournament, but to get a last-minute call-up was pretty special."

So here he is. A Scotland international at the T20 World Cup. In India.

The story of how he made it here begins a generation ago. Tom's father spent his first five years on a farm near Edinburgh before his family sailed on a six-week voyage to start a new life on a dairy farm in Eltham, New Zealand.

Tom Bruce picked up a cricket bat in his backyard like most Kiwi kids. He watched Nathan Astle's buccaneering strokeplay in awe and admired the menacing Australian side of the era.

He was always familiar with his Scottish heritage.

"Growing up, when all the Bruce clan would get together, their Scottish accents would come out more," he says. "In 2016, I was playing club cricket for Netherfield in the UK. My grandma came over and took us to where my dad and his brothers grew up. She showed us their family farm. It was emotional for her, reliving those times. It certainly meant a lot to be there with her."

The final arc of the story took place last month.

Bruce had played for Scotland in ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 fixtures last August and September. With Scotland failing to qualify for the T20 World Cup, his dream of three ICC tournaments in three years seemed over.

Then, tensions between the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the ICC over Bangladesh's refusal to play their World Cup games in India meant a Plan B was activated. Scotland, the highest-ranked non-qualifier, were the beneficiaries.

On a January morning in New Zealand, Bruce was preparing to lead the Central Stags in a Super Smash game.

"My phone had gone flat overnight," Bruce recalls. "I walked into breakfast. Ajaz Patel and Brett Randall were there. They shook my hand and said, 'Congratulations, you're going to the World Cup.' I thought they were joking. Then I found out Scotland was going. Once I charged my phone, I had about 200 WhatsApp messages from the Cricket Scotland group about visas and flights."

"It was a very busy few days, but very exciting. Like everyone, I'm disappointed for the Bangladesh fans and players. We know this is an opportunity that probably shouldn't have been there. But we're very grateful we were the next highest-ranked team. We just want to put our best foot forward."

Scotland's squad boasts experience with players like George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, and skipper Richie Berrington. Bruce's leadership experience with the Stags and New Zealand A adds another resource.

"I'm just trying to add my two cents where possible, or be another experienced head to lean on. To come full circle, ten years down the track, and to be with them again is pretty awesome. I've learned from these guys, and I hope they've learned a bit from me," Bruce says.

Amidst this is the balancing act of managing a young family. Bruce is a father to a five-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son.

"My daughter's just started saying, 'I don't want you to go to cricket. I just want you to stay at home.' So it certainly becomes tougher. But you know it's not forever. Once cricket's done, you're back home for good. It's a balance, and you're not always going to get it right, but you try your best."

As Bruce relishes every opportunity on the big stage, there are boxes to tick—including a potential face-off against his old Black Caps teammates if Scotland qualifies for the Super Eights at England's expense.

"It would be very special, having played against a lot of those boys. There's obviously a bit to go between now and then—a couple of big games, first against England. I know the boys are up against it, but we'll be giving it a real top crack," Bruce says.

Whatever unfolds, he will have a tale to tell his own grandchildren one day.