Cricket World Cup: Preston Mommsen says Scotland 'best prepared'

Preston Mommsen addressed the world's media in Sydney

Captain Preston Mommsen says Scotland go into the Cricket World Cup in better shape than they have ever been.

And the 27-year-old hopes the squad of full-time professionals built up in recent years can test hosts New Zealand in their opening game next Monday.

"We've got a fully contracted 15 players and we're looking to make a mark on the world stage," he said.

"We're the best prepared Scotland team that has left the shores, there's no doubt about that."

Scotland are in Pool A along with New Zealand, co-hosts Australia, England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

They played warm-up games in Australia in October and followed that up by taking part in a triangular tournament in Dubai in January.

"We've been able to acclimatise to these conditions," South Africa-born all-rounder Mommsen said as the squad arrived in Sydney.

"And we've been fortunate enough to be given access to some brilliant coaches and some brilliant opportunities to travel around the world."

Mommsen was especially looking forward to facing England in Christchurch on 23 February.

England defeated Scotland by 39 runs in a one-day international in May

"Every game we'll approach in the same systematic way," he said. "We want to win every game we play, but that England fixture is going to be a big one.

"The atmosphere is going to be pretty good and hopefully we'll get some home support there, going into the game as underdogs. That is a game we'd love to turn them over in."

Mommsen insists that the smaller nations deserve their place in the tournament and could provide some shock results.

He said: "We take a lot of inspiration from what Ireland have done at previous World Cups. They've found a way to stand up to the big teams and we'll be looking to do the same thing."

Fellow all-rounder and former captain Kyle Coetzer is also hoping the Associate nations show up well.

"It's something we've never done before - beating a full member nation in a world tournament - and it's definitely one of our aims and goals for this World Cup," he said.