Scotland World Cup 2015 profile: Scots aiming for third time lucky after two failed attempts

Coach: Grant Bradburn

ICC World Ranking: 14

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

Fixtures: New Zealand (14 February), Afghanistan (22 February), Bangladesh (26 February), England (1 March), Australia (8 March), Scotland (11 March).

Overview: It is Scotland's third attempt at the cricket World Cup, having previously played on two other occasions without much to show for it in 1999 and 2007. Scotland boasts of an impressive team, with vast experience in the UK county circuit at Durham and Warwickshire. Their mix of youth and experience should pose problems for rival teams and any lapse on their part can see Scotland pull off a major upset, which is not beyond them.

However, they have to step up in the batting department, where they have failed to make any impact in the ensuing tournaments. The Scots have not breached the 200-run mark thus far in the World Cup, with their highest score being 186, which they managed against South Africa in 2007. They were also beaten by West Indies in under three hours, the shortest match ever in a major 50 over tournament.

Their biggest threat would be captain Preston Mommsen, who was awarded the ICC Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year following his 30-game ODI career, where he scored 732 runs. If Scotland have to play any part in the tournament and register their first win ever, Mommsen has to play a huge part in rallying his troops.

Prediction: Scotland have been placed in a group which boasts the likes of New Zealand, England, Australia and Sri Lanka but will fancy their chances against the likes of Bangladesh and Afghanistan. However, qualifying into the quarter finals would take a few massive performances on their part, which at this point looks beyond them.