Gregor Maiden wants gloves for keeps

Gregor Maiden will keep wicket for a Scotland XI today in the season opener against the MCC at Lord's with the Grange man keen to make the keeping gloves his own for the summer.

A few eyebrows were raised when the squad was announced for the 50-over-a-side match earlier in the week with Maiden, more often know as a hard-hitting batsman and spinner, selected in the key position ahead of the likes of Simon Smith and Marc Petrie.

However, the 31-year-old Grange man has kept wicket for his club a number of times over the years in domestic cricket and has worked hard on his wicket-keeping skills over the winter.

And a good showing today at the home of cricket would surely see Maiden keep his place for the CB40 openers against Durham and Leicestershire on Sunday and Monday. Maiden said: "I am looking forward to keeping wicket in this match. My keeping is something I have been working on over the last couple of years and had a few opportunities to do it when Simon (Smith, who is now with Heriot's] was unavailable.

"Thankfully Peter Steindl and the selectors have entrusted me with the gloves for this match and hopefully I can do well and keep my place."

Maiden has only kept wicket for Scotland once before, standing in for then keeper Colin Smith when he had to miss a session in a three-day match against Ireland in Aberdeen a few years ago.

He added: "You have to be tuned in every ball and you are always involved, but I feel I deserve this chance and really have been putting the hard work in."

The match in London will see Tasmanian Luke Butterworth making his debut ahead of a season with Greenock and the Saltires, while it also gives a number of young batsmen the chance to test themselves.

The likes of Oli Hairs, Ryan Flannigan and Ewan Chalmers all have bright futures and Maiden said: "The young guys coming through have really impressed me with their attitude and work rate and the way they have developed.

"Oli is one of the most exciting talents around, while Ryan is a really clean ball striker and Ewan seems to have so much time at the crease and for them to get their season going at Lord's will be special for them."

The MCC are captained by former Scotland skipper Gavin Hamilton.

Scotland XI: Gordon Drummond, Oli Hairs, Ryan Flannigan, Ewan Chalmers, Richard Berrington, Preston Mommsen, Gregor Maiden, Luke Butterworth, Majid Haq, Matthew Parker, Gordon Goudie. 12th man: Calvin Burnett.

MCC: Gavin Hamilton, Mark Tomsett, Darren Bicknell, Ryan Watson, Jamie Dalrymple, James Benning, Mark Alleyne, Richard Wilkinson, Ryan Bradshaw, Kevin Dean, Hamid Hassan.