Judd backs Drummond’s I-Cup Scots

SCOTLAND No 2 Tony Judd last night backed Gordon Drummond’s side to match his class of 2004 by savouring I-Cup success in Sharjah.

Judd returns to the stadium where he led the Scots to their first-ever major silverware with a resounding win over Canada. A new-look Saltires side will attempt to kick-start their latest I-Cup campaign with victory over the UAE at the same venue today. He believes the current youthful crop have the potential to equal the efforts of their vastly experienced predecessors.

Judd, who resigned as head coach in the wake of the 2004 triumph, declared: “I will have happy memories going back to the Sharjah Stadium but I am the only guy who was there eight years ago. That shows the rapid turnover of players we’ve had and demonstrates that the team in 2004 were pretty much all at their peak. We had a superb bowling attack in these days with the likes of Asim Butt, John Blain and Paul Hoffmann. They were a handful against any batting side and bowled us to an innings win against Canada.

“But what we have now shows promise of being every bit as good. The game has moved on a lot in the last eight years and the guys nowadays train a lot harder and are probably better prepared. They are also developing a winning habit which is good news.

“UAE are a tough proposition especially in their own conditions but it would be great to experience another I-Cup win in Sharjah.”

The Scots, who reached the final for a second time in 2010, have a long way to go to emulate the side of eight years ago.

Two games into the current campaign, they are still seeking their first win after a rain-affected draw against the Netherlands and a winning draw in Namibia. However, a maximum haul of 20 points would propel them from sixth to second in the eight-team table.

Coach Pete Steindl will select from a fully-fit squad of 13 players though they are missing key batsman Kyle Coetzer. The Northants player – who played in the 2004 win – is involved in the Bangladesh Premier League. Spin bowler Majid Haq, who may open the batting, is expected to play a key role with the ball after recovering from a calf strain.

The starting XI will be announced shortly before the start.

Squad: R Flannigan, M Haq, P Mommsen, R Berrington, E Chalmers, C MacLeod, S Smith w/k, G Drummond capt, G Goudie, S Sharif, A Evans, F Coleman, C Wallace.