DURHAM'S Calum MacLeod was yesterday named in the Scotland squad for February's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, along with former Riverside batsman Kyle Coetzer.

Durham skipper Paul Collingwood will help to coach the Scots, whose second group game is against England at Christchurch on February 22.

In a similar role at last winter's qualifiers he spotted the potential of MacLeod, who after a month's trial with Durham was handed a contract until the end of the season. That has now been extended by two years.

Leicestershire’s Rob Taylor, Matt Machan of Sussex and Somerset’s Josh Davey are also in the squad and Coetzer, now with Northamptonshire,

said: “The county experience is important to us.

“We’re over the moon with the group we’re in,” added the 30-year-old batsman from Aberdeen. “As well as England, we play the two host nations, which should make for big crowds and a great atmosphere. We’ve got our goals of trying to take down at least one of the Test playing nations, because that’s something we haven’t ever done. Obviously England is a bit special.”

Coetzer is happy to play under the captaincy of Preston Mommsen after being relieved of the role prior to Scotland's recent three-week acclimatisation trip to New Zealand and Tasmania.

He has been greatly impressed by MacLeod, the 26-year-old Glaswegian whose explosive hitting played such a crucial part in securing World Cup qualification.

“The first time I came across Calum was when he came down on work experience to Durham when he was at school,” Coetzer said. “Then I played against him in a second team game when he was at Warwickshire – he’d been signed as a bowler and used to bat at nine or ten.

"So for him to go from there to opening the batting for Scotland, I don’t think I’ve seen anyone improve like that in my whole career. I’m hugely excited and proud of him."

Coetzer said of Collingwood: "He's exceptional at making guys feel good about themselves, building confidence. Coming out of the nets even if you’ve played and missed at everything he’ll say ‘Jeez you’ve looked good’. And obviously he just brings that little bit of experience and expertise, as a guy who’s captained England and won a T20 World Cup.”