And for years he niggled away with line-and-length, medium-pace left-armers, basically trying to outwait the batsmen.
That wait was certainly worth it. He took 182 wickets in 66 first-class games for Otago and Northern Districts.
But after 16 years of elite cricket, his back has finally given out. And wouldn't you know it, he injured it giving two of his four children ''a horsey ride to bed'' in April.
He had an operation on a prolapsed disc six weeks ago and is still rehabilitating. He hopes to be back at work in the next month.
The 37-year-old is a teacher at King's High School but he will not be returning to cricket, although he may make the odd cameo for his beloved Green Island.
For the past few years, Scott has been a fall-back option for Otago and has struggled a little. But in his prime Scott made the most of every ounce of talent he possessed.
He combined with Warren McSkimming in an Otago opening bowling partnership that was perhaps greater than the sum of its parts.
''They would be some of my fondest memories bowling in partnership with Warren,'' Scott said.
''It was probably due to Warren that I got as many wickets for Otago as I did because he created so much pressure. And we were big on bowling dot after dot and being really disciplined because we did not have that out-and-out pace.
''At that time, the Otago team struggled to win four-day cricket because we just didn't quite have the firepower with the ball, so we just got our wickets through discipline.''
Scott may play down his contribution but there would be plenty of fast bowlers around the country happy to have his first-class average of 28.11. And his Otago record of 158 wickets at 25.20 is quite exceptional.
''I was fortunate to play at the University Oval when it was still bedding in,'' he said.
''But we were definitely formidable at home and people didn't like coming down to Dunedin.''
The pair also teamed up with the bat from time to time and combined for a record Otago ninth-wicket partnership of 208 in a first-class match against Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval in February 2005.
The Volts were 137 for eight when Scott joined McSkimming at the wicket with a daunting rescue mission ahead.
''Helping him get through to his maiden 100 and putting on that partnership of over 200 was pretty special,'' Scott said.
Scott could not quite reach the milestone himself, though. He was bowled by Kerry Walmsley for 96 the next morning without adding to his score.
Other playing highlights included playing in four domestic one-day finals in a row for three wins. He was also part of the Northern Districts team which won two Plunket Shields.
But the first title was the most memorable.
It was the year - 2008 - Brendon McCullum blasted 170 to help the Volts break a 20-year drought in the one-day tournament.
''Definitely. But it was the three years leading up as well. We'd got better and better.
''We targeted death bowling as an area we could really improve and that become my real focus.''
Scott will miss the ''camaraderie, the banter and the friends that you make''.
He grew up playing with McSkimming, and Nathan and Brendon McCullum, while Craig Cumming was a ''really big influence'' on his career.
He made many friends while living in Hamilton and playing for Northern Districts as well.
He had huge support from his extended family but particularly his wife, Jennie. The couple have four children - Maia (8), Lucie (6), Olivia (4) and Charlie (10 months) - and Scott said he could not have achieved what he was able to achieve without all their support.
''My father gave me the love of the game. My brothers gave me that competitive edge. I had a mother who was very supportive and my wife has been really amazing.''
