Like Ireland, they haven't played as much ODI cricket as they would like in the lead-up to this World Cup, and have been forced to use the current ODI series as an audition for fringe players looking to claim a seat on the plane. They've not been as competitive as they would have liked, but have learned a lot about some of their players, so they will be able to take some all-important positives from being two-nil down with one to play.
What's their best eleven?
Well, the Scots don't quite seem sure of what their best eleven is yet. For me, a lot depends upon their choice of gloveman. Despite David Murphy probably being the best pure wicket-keeper, the Scots seem very keen to pick Matt Cross to open the batting. If he does so, then that results in the entire middle-order batting out of position, which cannot help matters. Bowling-wise, they shape up pretty well. Wardlaw and Evans look like a stable new-ball pair, while Majid Haq is a valuable spinning option. Otherwise, a plethora of all-round options lend flexibility to the side. In my opinion, their best bet would be along the lines of this side:
Kyle Coetzer, Calum MacLeod, Matt Machan, Preston Mommsen, Richie Berrington, Michael Leask, Josh Davey, David Murphy, Majid Haq, Alasdair Evans, Iain Wardlaw
Who's their star player?
The Scotsman that everyone has heard of is Kyle Coetzer. His most memorable moment was his stunning World Twenty20 catch, but his ODI career has been consistently excellent. However, he has not always been part of the ODI set-up, sometimes having been kept away by county duty. His form this year as part of a woeful Northants side has been very patchy, but you get the feeling that if Coetzer fails then so will Scotland.
Who do they have to pick?
Michael Leask only recently made the step up to the Scottish national side, and it took him a long time to settle into the side, but he's starting to make his presence felt. As well as his brutal treatment of England's James Tredwell, Leask has dotted his breakthrough season with brutal innings - most notably a truly rapid 132 in the North Sea Pro Series and a brutal unbeaten 173 against a strong Yorkshire Seconds attack. Every team needs a match-winner.
Left-field selection?
Despite a less-than-stellar start to his international career, Hamish Gardiner stands a fair chance of making it onto the plane to Australia. He learnt his cricket there, and it might be worth a punt on him being accomplished on the bouncy tracks of home. Also, his hasty 82 against the touring Kiwi 'A' team littered with Test and ODI bowlers.
What are their prospects?
Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that Scotland will break their duck in World Cup matches. Afghanistan and Bangladesh are both mercurial enough that they might forget how to win a cricket match at just the right time, but Scotland haven't beaten Afghanistan in an ODI in four years or Bangladesh at all.