Coetzer looks forward to big day for Scotland

Scotland skipper Kyle Coetzer says that any clash with England constitutes a special moment for cricket in his country.

Coetzer and his charges are determined to give England a real battle when they meet at the Grange in Edinburgh for a one-off ODI.

“It’s going to be an unreal occasion for our guys and everyone who’s involved,” Coetzer, who will be playing his 50th ODI, told BBC Radio Scotland.

“Any game, whether it be football, rugby or cricket or any other sport, an occasion against England is going to be a pretty special day.”

Scotland face an unusually busy period at the onset of their home international season likely helped by teams wanting more experience playing in Britain.

They take on Pakistan for two Twenty20 Internationals on June 12 and 13, before travelling to the Netherlands for a T20I tri-series with the hosts and Ireland.

Coetzer says that his team have put the disappointment of coming agonizingly close to qualifying for the 2019 World Cup in the ICC’s diabolically cruel qualifier in Zimbabwe.

“We’ve really shown what we can do, especially coming off the back off of Zimbabwe,” pointed out Coetzer. “The guys are in a good place and we’re looking forward to it.”

Coetzer told The Independent that his team are eager to prove themselves against global superstars.

He said: “As players we want to play against the best in the world, people you’re watching on the TV all the time.

“There’s no reason why Scotland can’t be one of those nations. We’re full of exciting cricketers, full of quality and skilful players and we are in a position to challenge as well as we ever have done against some of these top nations.

“Look at us beating Zimbabwe last year, then beating Sri Lanka in an unofficial game quite convincingly. These are signs of huge progress.”