The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Coetzer confident Scots ready for biggest-ever test
Captain feels his side can push Auld Enemy despite their ODI excellence
SCOTLAND v ENGLAND
Kyle Coetzer believes Scotland are ready to meet their toughest-ever test when they tackle star-studded England in a One-Day International in Edinburgh tomorrow.
Coetzer’s men go head-to-head with the Auld Enemy at The Grange and the Scotland captain insists the English fully merit their place at the top of the ICC’s ODI rankings.
He said: “England have got some quality players and are the number-one rated side for a good reason. They are turning into a sensational, really dangerous outfit. They are bringing up the strongest team available to them and we fully expect a high-quality and keenlycontested match.
“Any game in any sport against England is going to be a pretty special day and our guys are ready and raring to go.”
Only the injured Ben Stokes and resting Jos Buttler will be absent from Eoin Morgan’s England side but the visitors still have plenty match-winners throughout the team.
Coetzer, though, is confident that his men have the drive, determination and skills to push the favourites hard.
The Scots have claimed some notable scalps in the 50-over format in recent times including victories against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe a year ago.
They were also poised to qualify for next year’s World Cup during the qualifier in Zimbabwe earlier this year until rain and a shocking umpiring decision combined to hand victory to the West Indies.
Coetzer added: “We love to play an attacking and exciting brand of cricket and we’ve had some excellent performances and results over the last couple of years.
“Despite the disappointment of the World Cup qualifier, the guys are in a good place just now – that tournament showed that we can compete with the best teams.
“We face the very best on Sunday and the guys are ready for it.”
Scotland have never beaten the Auld Enemy in a competitive match but Aberdonian Michael Leask’s 16-ball 42 gave England a scare on their last visit in 2014 before the English prevailed by 39 runs at Aberdeen’s Mannofield.