Scotland have announced their first team members for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games ©Commonwealth Games Scotland

Scotland have announced their first team members for next year's Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast with 31 swimmers and lawn bowlers set to compete in Australia next year.

The announcement comes after athletes were nominated by Scottish Swimming and Bowls Scotland before being ratified by Commonwealth Games Scotland.

The swimming team contains a mix of youth and experience with 13 of the 21 having competed for Scotland at Glasgow 2014.

Ross Murdoch and Dan Wallace will defend their Commonwealth Games titles in Australia, while Hannah Miley is aiming to win her third 400 metres individual medley title in a row.

Just 17 when he took silver as part of the 4x200m freestyle relay team three years ago in Glasgow, Duncan Scott will be looking to reach the top of the podium at Gold Coast 2018. 

He claimed two Olympic relay silver medals at Rio 2016 and a gold and silver at this year's World Aquatics Championships in Budapest.

Scott was not the only athlete on the World Championship podium this summer and fellow gold medallist in the 4x200m freestyle relay, Stephen Milne, will also be in action.

Kathleen Dawson took bronze in the 100m backstroke event at the 2016 European Championships, adding gold in the medley relay, and was a finalist in both events at this year’s World Championships.

Scotland’s most successful Commonwealth Youth Games athlete with five medals at Bahamas 2017 just over two months ago, 18-year-old Scott McLay, has earned a place in the senior team.

He is joined by 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games silver medallist Craig McLean and bronze medallist at the recent World Junior Championships, Keanna MacInnes.

Five men and five women make up the lawn bowls team.

They will be aiming to continue their form from the 2016 World Championships, where they secured five medals from eight events.

Scotland's bowls team won five medals at the 2016 World Championships ©Commonwealth Games Scotland
Scotland's bowls team won five medals at the 2016 World Championships ©Commonwealth Games Scotland

Alex Marshall will make his sixth Commonwealth Games appearance and will be looking to add to his tally of four gold medals, including both the pairs and fours titles at Glasgow 2014.

He will be joined by two fellow Glasgow 2014 gold medallists, Paul Foster and Darren Burnett, who won the men's singles title.

Caroline Brown and Claire Johnston each return for a third Commonwealth Games and Kay Moran makes her second appearance, 12 years after her silver medal winning performance at Melbourne 2006 in the women’s pairs.

The squad is completed by Ronnie Duncan, Derek Oliver, Lesley Doig and Stacey McDougall.

The women’s team will be looking for a first medal since Melbourne 2006.

"We are delighted to welcome our first athletes to Team Scotland 2018," said Scotland's Gold Coast 2018 Chef de Mission, Jon Doig.

"We are off to a strong start with swimming and lawn bowls, two of Scotland’s most successful Commonwealth Games sports with a track record of success in Australia.

"They are also two of Australia’s top sports, so we can count on a fantastic atmosphere and tough competition in Gold Coast.

"Congratulations to all athletes selected and we look forward to Team Scotland 2018 taking shape over the coming months."

The full squad list can be found here.