Cricket: Scotland’s Coetzer out to spook England

Scotland cricket star Kyle Coetzer is looking forward to facing England in a forthcoming ODI. Picture: SNS

As captain Kyle Coetzer set out a statement of intent to remind England of their winter woes from Australia and elsewhere, in Friday’s one-day international in Aberdeen, acting coach Craig Wright revealed he has already tapped into the relevant knowledge of Paul Collingwood and Peter Borren about how to upset the odds.

Borren’s Holland famously did just that with a 45-run humbling of England in an ICC World Twenty20 dead rubber just five-and-a-half weeks ago.

Collingwood was in the England camp then, as assistant to limited-overs coach Ashley Giles.

Previously, however, it was Collingwood - a triple Ashes-winner with England - who joined forces with Wright to help Scotland qualify for the 2015 World Cup.

England have since dispensed with Giles’ role, and Collingwood returned to captain Durham for one more summer.

That, however, has not prevented him giving the Scotland management some advice for a fixture in which Coetzer senses the visitors may be vulnerable after their 5-0 Ashes drubbing and other troubles in 2013/14.

“England maybe didn’t have the winter they would have liked,” said the Aberdeen-born batsman.

“I guess from our point of view we’d like to put a bit of pressure on them, and maybe try to bring back some of those bad memories from the winter.”

England have travelled north with Cook still captain of a largely familiar squad, but with Peter Moores back in the head-coach role he had to vacate five years ago.

“There are some fresh faces in there, and obviously a new coach, so I can imagine there are a few players trying to prove themselves,” added Coetzer.

“No one’s position is cemented yet, so I think some of them may be feeling a little bit of pressure to have to perform in this game.

“We’re meant to be the underdogs, so we can maybe prey on all that a little bit.

“A good start to the game (for us) could really bring back some haunting memories for them.”

Wright, meanwhile, is armed with unspecified tactical insight thanks to Collingwood.

Asked if England’s 2010 ICC World Twenty20-winning captain had given him an inside track on the opposition, Wright said: “He has. I can’t possibly tell you what it is.

“We played an A team game down at Durham last week, and he had us round for a barbecue so we were talking tactics.”

Borren’s input, it seems, is principally that Scotland should believe in their ability to beat England.

“One of the Dutch teams was over last weekend, and I had a little bit of a chat with Pete,” said Wright.

Coetzer, playing in his hometown - a cricket-mad enclave north of the border - in front of a sell-out 2,000-strong crowd, is determined to make the most of his opportunity.

Holland, twice, and Ireland have beaten England in the past five years.

He hopes it is Scotland’s turn, in front of their own new coach Grant Bradburn - the New Zealander who will take up his role in July, with Wright as assistant, but is in town for a watching brief.

“I’m immensely looking forward to it,” Wright added.

“It’s a great honour to be captaining my country, especially here in Aberdeen.

“I suppose Ireland and Holland do have one up on us at the moment, having taken a couple of scalps.

“But this is our time to prove ourselves.”