Grant Bradburn, the coach, has confirmed that Preston Mommsen will captain Scotland at next year's ICC Cricket World Cup.

Grant Bradburn, the coach, has confirmed that Preston Mommsen will captain Scotland at next year's ICC Cricket World Cup.

The news formalises the handover of the role from Kyle Coetzer, who will be vice-captain for the tournament, which gets underway on Ferbruary 14 in Australia and New Zealand.

Mommsen played a pivotal role as Scotland clinched their place in the competition. The 27-year-old recovered from injury to star in the World Cup qualification tournament, staged in New Zealand last January, as he scored 520 runs in eight innings on his way to being named Player of the Tournament.

South Africa-born Mommsen, who has lived in Edinburgh since his schooldays, has compiled 684 runs after 26 one-day internationals with an average of 31.09. His highest score of 139 came against the UAE in the final of the qualifying tournament.

His leadership skills also contributed to Mommsen being named as the 2014 ICC Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year - the highest recognition a player can achieve from a non-Test-playing nation.

He takes over the captaincy on a permanent basis from Northamptonshire's Coetzer, who had skippered the side periodically for the past two years but never enjoyed a sustained period in charge due to injuries.

It is thought that one of the main reasons for Mommsen being identified as a better choice as captain is to give Coetzer more freedom to concentrate on his batting.

Mommsen said: "It's a huge honour to be leading the Scotland team into the 2015 Cricket World Cup. This group of players have been together for a couple of years now, and this has always been the dream.

"It's an exciting time for everyone involved in Scottish cricket and hopefully our performances in Australia and New Zealand will help promote the game, and inspire the next generation in Scotland."

Bradburn added: "We have a strong squad line-up and excellent leaders in Preston and Kyle, as we prepare to play some international cricketing giants on the world stage next February in New Zealand.

"We don't underestimate the challenge but we have been training hard and will be bringing our absolute best to this hugely important global event."

Scotland will play at least six matches during the tournament, opening their Pool A campaign with a sold-out clash against co-hosts New Zealand in Dunedin on February 17. England are next up in Christchurch on February 23 before the Scots return to Dunedin three days later to face Afghanistan.

Bangladesh will provide the opposition in Nelson on March 5, with Sri Lanka next on the schedule on March 11 in Hobart, the same venue for their final group game against Australia on March 14.

Scotland's official warm-up opposition was also confirmed yesterday. They will play Ireland at the Blacktown Oval in Sydney on February 10 and then West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where South Australia batsman Phil Hughes was fatally injured last week, on February 12.