Sunday 8 February 2015 08:24, UK
Captain Preston Mommsen admits Scotland would love to break their World Cup duck at the expense of England.
The Scots have yet to win a World Cup game in two visits (in 1999 and 2007) but could end that sequence this year as they play fellow associate nation Afghanistan and lowly-ranked Bangladesh at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
But Mommsen says the fixture against the English in Christchurch on February 23 is the one his squad is looking forward to the most.
"We want to win every game we play, but that England fixture, that's a very big one," the 27-year-old right-handed batsman said.
"I think that atmosphere is going to be a pretty good one.
"Hopefully we get some home support there going into that game as the underdogs, but that would be a game we'd love to turn them over in."
If Scotland do secure a World Cup shock win over England, they will do so with the help of an Englishman, with Paul Collingwood rejoining the Scots’ coaching staff.
Collingwood, who won the 2010 World Twenty20 with England, helped the Scots to qualify last winter when working on an interim basis alongside Craig White, and new head coach Grant Bradburn has offered him the chance to return as his assistant for the tournament proper.
"Paul joined us for the qualifying tournament in New Zealand last year and he had an immediate effect," said Mommsen, who was born in South Africa but has remained in Scotland since graduating from Gordonstoun, Prince Charles' old school, in Elgin.
"Obviously he brings with him huge experience, a World Cup-winning captain with England, and he's very easy to relate to."
Only last summer Collingwood helped Durham lift the Royal London One-Day Cup - county cricket's 50-over competition - as a player and has fitted straight back in with Scotland after arriving in Sydney on Saturday.
"He's still playing with Durham, so he's almost like another squad member - he's very comfortable in our environment," Mommsen added.
"The guys are very comfortable with him being in our environment and he's a great guy to tap into. He's not in your face, but at the same time very easily approachable and he adds great value to the team."
