Keeping up the good work

Plucked from club cricket with Forfarshire before his 21st birthday, Scotland are relying on youth after a series of would-be successors to the incomparable Colin Smith failed to stake a convincing claim.

The latest to try on the retired Aberdonian’s gloves, Wallace was spotted by former Scotland coach Peter Drinnen at the age of ten.

But the Dundonian concedes he is still perfecting his chosen trade. “I hadn’t kept much at a high level before last year,” he states. “So I’m learning as I go.”

Regular instruction from two mentors has accelerated his development. Of late, former Northants keeper Toby Bailey, currently the professional at Carlton, has taken the rookie under his wing.

“What we focused on is my routine,” he reveals. “Before the match, I’ll take 20 or 30 catches, just to get ready. Before each ball, I’ve learnt to forget about what’s happened before. I’ve got quite a short temper so he’s just told me to stay in my routine and concentrate on one ball at a time. It’s made me a lot calmer.”

Wallace, who will continue his on-the-job training when the Saltires visit Durham today in the Clydesdale Bank Pro 40, added: “It’s been excellent. It’s the first time I’ve had specialist coaching.”

The second mentor has shown generosity beyond the call. Training at the Grange in midweek, Simon Smith patiently throws ball after ball in the direction of his in-house rival.

“It’s good to have him around,” Wallace said. “We do drills every day. He can point out things automatically in my technique. And, the more I learn, the more I’m able to do the same thing for him. We’ve got a good relationship.”

The affable Smudger, for so long understudy to namesake Colin, has had the gloveman’s position in four-day cricket ring-fenced for himself.

“We’re lucky in that we have different roles,” said Wallace.

But, in the long-term, it is likely he’ll seek more than just a one-day role himself. It would strengthen his case for a full-time contract with Cricket Scotland. For now, Wallace plans to resume his PE teaching degree at Edinburgh University in the autumn after gambling on a year’s sabbatical prior to last year’s World Twenty20 qualifiers.

That was a risk but Wallace said: “It’s all worked really well but it will be a bit of reality when I go back.

“It was a conscious decision to step back from uni and give this a go. I got picked just before term started, which was lucky. I had a chat with [Saltires coach] Pete Steindl, and I just felt that, if I was going to cement my spot, I’d have to do this.”

If Wallace admits to initial nerves at facing the best of the county set, he now feels at home in the heat of the Pro40. Scotland need to settle any self-doubt at Chester-le-Street today after Hampshire’s bowlers were allowed to impose themselves all too easily last Sunday.

In the field, the Saltires were sturdier. Wallace had two early catches and runs were minimised but batting proved the Achilles heel.

“The biggest thing is this weekend we have to be more aggressive, both with the ball and bat, and really just limit our mental mistakes,” said Wallace. “We know we’re a good team.”