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Scotland

Missing out on the 2019 World Cup - at which they would have replaced the West Indies, no less - solely by virtue of an appalling umpiring decision and whisker-thin DLS calculation that went against them, Scotland had every reason to be positive going into the qualifiers for this tournament.  But it ended up being something of a slog for the boys in blue, and they only crossed the line at the last opportunity by pipping UAE in the playoffs.  Nevertheless, having made it to the party, they'll be looking to build on their 2016 debut showing, when they notched up a first World T20 win against Hong Kong.  Captain Kyle Coetzer certainly has the pedigree, fresh from being awarded an MBE for services to cricket and the ICC's award for associate cricketer of the decade, and at 37 he may not have too many more opportunities to stamp Scotland's mark on a major tournament.

He'll look to Calum MacLeod - scorer of that legendary ODI 140 against England in 2018 - to shoulder the burden of run-scoring (though MacLeod is now two years without a T20 half-century), alongside left-hander George Munsey - Scotland's highest-ranked T20 player - with his battery of sweeps and reverse-sweeps.  Supporting them is the in-form old hand Richie Berrington who excels at clearing the ropes, as does lower-order finisher Matthew Cross.  With the ball, Safyaan Sharif remains the senior figure, as he was three years ago when his dismissal of Mark Wood sealed the victory over England; however, the only real pace option is Brad Wheal, who impressed in the Hundred this summer but hasn't played a T20 international for four years.  Mark Watt and Hamza Tahir can provide left-hand finger-spin, but Scotland's only wrist-spinner is 31-year-old leggy Chris Greaves, handed his international debut just over a week ago, with a solitary appearance for Gloucestershire's second XI the peak of his domestic career.  To say that there's a lack of depth would be an understatement: the Scots absolutely need their top five to deliver with the bat and strike bowlers to do the job with the ball if they're to overcome the problems of a lengthy tail and samey attack.  Victory against Papua New Guinea on Tuesday is a must, while anything against Bangladesh is a bonus; presuming the Tigers top the group, Scotland's fixture against Oman on Thursday may end up being the win-or-bust shootout that decides who nicks the crucial second spot.

Highest World Cup total: 156-5 vs Afghanistan (Nagpur, 2016)
Lowest World Cup total: 136 vs Zimbabwe (Nagpur, 2016)
Leading World Cup run-scorer: George Munsey, 68 runs
Best World Cup innings: George Munsey, 41 vs Afghanistan (Nagpur, 2016)
Leading World Cup wicket-taker: Mark Watt, 4 wickets
Best World Cup bowling figures: Mark Watt, 2-21 vs Zimbabwe (Nagpur, 2016)