Tendulkar: Scots have earned right to face elite

CRICKET legend Sachin Tendulkar last night hailed Scotland’s historic win over England and insisted they deserved more opportunities against the world’s top sides. The Scots just missed out on qualification for the 2019 World Cup after the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to limit the tournament to just ten teams but recorded the most famous result in their history when they beat England, the No 1-ranked one-day international team, by six runs on Sunday. That victory has led to calls for the ICC to review their attitude towards Associate nations such as Scotland, with Indian superstar Tendulkar saying on Twitter: ‘Cricket has all the ingredients to become a global game. ‘Teams with massive potential like Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland along with many others, have to be given more opportunities to

play against the more experienced teams. Best way to provide great exposure.’ Cricket Scotland chairman Tony Brian backed those calls and feels Scotland are now knocking on the door to becoming the 13th ICC member country, with all the fixtures and prestige that would bring. ‘We’re so close to our goal of full member status now,’ he said. ‘I can see us getting there in the next couple of years. That would be a huge step forward.’ Meanwhile, Scotland head coach Grant Bradburn insists England did not swot up on his side before Sunday’s shock result. Ahead of the two T20s starting with Pakistan today at the Grange, the Kiwi said: ‘I don’t think England did their homework on us, to be honest. ‘That was evident in some of their bowling choices against our batters. That’s their department and they will have to live with that. ‘I certainly don’t agree with (England captain) Eoin Morgan, who said they were way off the mark. ‘I thought they played bloody well and they showed why they are the No 1 team in the world. A couple of their batsmen should have got them over the line, but pressure does funny things and when you’re chasing 372 runs in any game against whoever that’s a tough task. ‘We knew if we hung in long enough we’d have a chance.’