Mcbride in confident mood as Scots eye World Cup spot
Chris Mcbride is confident Scotland can successfully negotiate the upcoming ICC World Cup Qualifier and book their place at the finals later this year.
The Scots are currently at a training camp in South Africa before they head across the border to Zimbabwe for the 10-team tournament that gets under way on June 16 and will decide who gets the last two spots on offer for the showpiece in India this autumn.
Doug Watson’s team are in a five-team pool alongside Ireland, Sri Lanka, Oman and UAE, with the top three teams from each section going forward to the Super Six stage to play for the final two World Cup berths.
Scotland came through the qualifiers to make it to the 2015 event in Australia and New Zealand, and Mcbride – who made his debut last year – believes they can do so again.
“I think we can, yes,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of pride and self-worth in the group that we believe we deserve to be there. I know it won’t be easy because of the opposition we face, but I think the group
is very close-knit and there is a lot of confidence within the group.
“We’re going to train as hard as we can to try to meet our goal of finishing in that top two. We can only look at that first game against Ireland at the moment, but I think we can go a long way.”
Mcbride, who turns 24 this month, is relishing the biggest tournament of his career to date.
“The whole tour is going to be pretty full-on, it’s going to be very good," he said. “The appeal of playing in a world
event, with it being my firstever qualifier, is very exciting.
“I’m going to get to test myself under pressure against some very good opposition.
“The boys are close-knit, we’re used to touring as a group, so it will be amazing."
Dumfries-born Mcbride is pleased at how he has adapted to international cricket since realising a childhood dream when he made his debut against Oman in Dubai last year.
“I dreamt of getting into the national team when I was a young boy and I remember going to watch my brother play for Scotland Under-19s in Belfast, so that was when I really wanted to get involved,” he said.
“It meant so much to make my debut, although it was gutting that I didn’t have any family there. It was a surreal experience, the day just flew by.
“But there was a lot of pride, especially for Dumfries, my home cricket club. I always get great support from them.
“Istartedmyscotlandcareer slowly, but I think I’ve started finding my feet in the last two tours in Namibia and Nepal. I’ve been averaging over 30 in the last eight knocks so I feel like I’m getting into it and I’m ready for the qualifiers.”
Meanwhile, Australia will head into this week’s Ashes as Test world champions after they stamped out Indian resistance in ruthless fashion to claim a 209-run win at the Oval.
With just four days to go before they renew their biggest rivalry against England at Edgbaston, Australia soared to victory, dismissing India for 234 on the final morning of the ICC’S second World Test Championship final.
India were once again runners-up, having lost the inaugural final to New Zealand two years ago.