Bowler Chris is eyeing repeat of dad’s 1990 win

FIRST came the slow march. Then came the fire and brimstone. And by the end England were sent home tae think again.

If Chris Sole can inspire something similar to his dad David’s 1990 Grand Slam rugby heroics tomorrow,then Scotland will have another memorable sporting moment.

Unlike rugby and football, Scotland have never beaten England at cricket, in a rivalry that has lasted only since 2008.

But that doesn’t matter a jot to those brought up on the tradition of sporting battle between the two nations that share so much between them, and for Chris, the chance to add to the impressive sporting heritage of the family.

“Every international I get to play in is special,” said seam bowler Sole, 24. “But there is obviously a little bit more there when it comes to the English due to the history of the countries.

“I do think their No.1 ranking puts even more on it and the fact is any team on their day can upset a higher-ranked team. We have seen it with upsets from Ireland and the Netherlands and maybe it is our turn.

“I was only a twinkle in dad’s eye in 1990 but we’ve always known through other people saying. ‘Ah, what your dad did back then was incredible,’ and you always see footage come the Calcutta Cup game of that walk out.

“We’ve managed to paint our own pictures without being there ourselves and that is one of Scotland’s more historical days in sport.”

The “we” refers to Chris’s brother Tom who also plays cricket for Scotland but is missing this game through a broken ankle. The pair have actually not managed to play together for their country yet.

“I’m immensely proud of all the kids,” said Sole senior. “They have all achieved an awful lot themselves but like any parent even if they hadn’t played any sport I’d still be proud of them.

“Whatever sport it is the Scotland v England rivalry always has an interesting nuance to it and there is that little bit of an edge that doesn’t exist in other games.

“England are the No.1 ODI side in the world and they’ll be coming up as firm favourites but Scotland thrive on being the underdogs whether it is rugby or cricket or whatever.

“If they believe in themselves they can challenge the best sides.”