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Preston Mommsen named as Scotland captain for Australia/New Zealand tour

Image: Preston Mommsen: Will captain Scotland on pre-World Cup tour

Scotland will be captained by batsman Preston Mommsen during their tour of Australia and New Zealand.

The 26-year-old will take charge ahead of regular skipper Kyle Coezter, although the Northants opener is part of the squad which faces 50-over games against the Tasmanian Tigers and Queensland Academy of Sport XIs before heading to New Zealand to play a Kiwi invitational XI and three domestic first-class sides.

Mommsen played a pivotal part in ensuring Scotland reached the World Cup, scoring 520 runs in eight innings and claiming player of the tournament in the ICC qualifying event earlier this year.

Coach Grant Bradburn said: "Preston Mommsen is going to lead this team for this tour, while we will announce our World Cup captain when the squad is revealed.

"We now have a number of potential leaders and players who are desperate and proud to lead their country.

"It is deemed a great honour to captain Scotland. Cricket-wise, however, it's imperative that a captain can command with his performance.

"Preston will captain on the back of the fact that he has thrived in recent times in this capacity and will lead the team on this tour."

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Bradburn also said he wanted Coetzer to 'focus on his own game' away from the responsibility of leading the side as well.

Opportunity

He hopes the tour will provide some clues about his World Cup selection and feels it provides a perfect chance for players to force their way into his plans.

"It's a great opportunity to get our full-strength squad together on a tour which helps us prepare for a huge World Cup ahead of us," Bradburn added.

"This tour will allow us to have a good mix of game and training time.

"We have 15 games between now and the World Cup, and this initial tour allows us to work through our combinations and game plans.

"Strategically, we have chosen some quality training opportunities and opposition. It's a chance to really improve on playing spin and quick pace - something we don't get the opportunity to do as much as we would in our home conditions."

Scotland leave for the tour on September 22 and return on October 24.

Squad: Preston Mommsen (captain), Kyle Coetzer, Josh Davey, Alasdair Evans, Gordon Goudie, Michael Leask, Calum MacLeod, Richie Berrington, Freddie Coleman, Matthew Cross, Hamish Gardiner, Majid Haq, Matt Machan, Safyaan Sharif, Rob Taylor, Iain Wardlaw.

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