Scotland's Coetzer tipped for the big time

London: Scotland captain Gavin Hamilton has backed batsman Kyle Coetzer to play international cricket for England after the Durham player burst onto the global stage in the World Twenty20.

Even though the Scots were thrashed by 130 runs by South Africa and knocked out of the competition, Aberdeen-born Coetzer scored 42 of their 81 all out, as well as taking a sensational one-handed catch (right) at long-on to dismiss Mark Boucher.

Coetzer will now return to county cricket, but Hamilton admitted: "He quite clearly wants to play for England. Those are the aspirations of every county cricketer and, at 25, he is still young enough to do it. He is an impressive guy, full stop, with the way he handles himself, and how professional he is. I would be astounded if he doesn't go on to bigger things."

The Scotland players will now return to their day jobs and will not reconvene to play a full international side until they face Australia in late August.

Hamilton, 34, said: "We have got to come back hard for that because these games are going to run out eventually unless we do something about it."

AB De Villiers scored 79 from 34 balls in South Africa's hugely impressive showing, and skipper Graeme Smith said: "It was important to send a message, and we did that."