Cumbernauld bowler Gavin going for World Cup glory

The 27-year-old is among 20 players taking part in the competition at the Warilla club in New South Wales from March 15-20.

And while he was picked for selection towards the end of last year, he says it’s only now that the challenge awaiting him is starting to dawn.

The 20 players are split into two groups of 10 with Gavin up against players from Australia, Canada, South Africa, Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, Turkey, Spain and Fiji.

The two group winners go straight into the semi-finals with second and third in each section entering play-offs to make up the last four.

Gavin is from Lenzie and plays for his local club during the summer and Cumbernauld Indoor BC during the indoor season.

He said: “I’m really excited about it - it’s become ‘real’ now. For ages it’s seemed so far away.

“The Australian I’ll be playing is Jeremy Henry who is the favourite. He’s playing at his home club and has won three out of the last four times the competition has been played. So that will be my biggest challenge, but they are all good players.

“If I am being realistic, if I can get into the top three in the group and qualify for the play-offs I will be chuffed with that.

“Not many players get this kind of opportunity to play at this level and to play against these kind of players can only be good for me.

“Regardless of how I fare in the competition I’ll be able to pick up the kind of experience which can only help my own game develop.”