Hamilton prepares for Scotland challenge

Gavin Hamilton was watching England's cricketers steam-roller the hapless Bangladeshis on Friday and intimations of what might have been filtered through his mind.

Six years ago, when Hamilton brought a glittering lustre to Scotland's maiden World Cup campaign, the Asians were in desperate straits at 26 for 5 at The Grange, before a combination of fielding lapses and 44 extras allowed them to post a respectable 185. Whereupon, Hamilton seemed to be implementing a match-winning recovery until he was run out for 63, the visitors crept home narrowly and subsequently earned Test status without anybody bothering to investigate whether they actually deserved it.

In the intervening period, of course, Hamilton has suffered more troughs than peaks, peremptorily discarded after a single appearance for England on a wretched pitch in South Africa, stricken with the cricketing equivalent of golf's dreaded yips, and forced to wait before he could represent his birthplace again.

Yet, admirably, he remains a genial coiled spring of hyper-activity, a fellow inherently capable of lifting the spirits of any dressing room, and finding positives in any scenario. In which light, it's refreshing to report that redemption may soon be at hand for the 30 year-old, not just in the confirmation that he has joined the Scottish Saltires on a loan deal from Durham, but also in his unshakeable conviction that he has unfinished business on international duty.

"I never dwell on the past, beyond remembering the incredible buzz which surrounded our World Cup adventure and the prospect of being involved in that competition in the West Indies would be a tremendous way to bring the curtain down on my career," says Hamilton, one of four English-based county professionals (the others being Dougie Brown, John Blain and Kyle Coetzer), whose contributions will be essential during the ICC Trophy in Ireland at the beginning of July.

"This arrangement between Durham and the Saltires is pretty flexible, and obviously my employers at The Riverside will take precedence if I am asked to feature in the first team any time in June, but I am definitely available for the next two Totesport League fixtures against Warwickshire (at Stratford-on-Avon this afternoon) and Yorkshire (at Headingley tomorrow) and after that, let's see what happens.

"Durham have made a terrific start to the season, which explains why I have been restricted to captaining their second XI, but, to be honest, turning out for Scotland is a win-win situation and if I can notch up a few runs and help the boys record their opening victory of the summer, it can only boost their confidence. The lads have certainly proved in their last couple of outings that they are raising their standards and, ahead of what is a hugely important summer, the fact that they have scored 500 runs against Somerset and Surrey demonstrates the ability which exists in the ranks."

A naturally athletic individual, whom, as a sprightly teenager, was sufficiently talented at football to be on Arsenal's books for a spell, Hamilton's boyish joie de vivre hardly suggests that he is advancing into the veteran stakes. Nor would one surmise that he has endured the kind of public privations which would have reduced lesser individuals to gibbering wrecks and counselling sessions.

On the contrary, as one of the Scotland personnel who triumphed comprehensively in the inaugural Intercontinental Cup last December, he harbours no doubts that his compatriots can etch a genuine impression on the ODI circuit and scarcely bothers to disguise his derision at the farcical circumstances in which Bangladesh have been scattered to the wind at Lord's.

"If ever there was argument for a two-tier Test structure, we've seen it during the last few days and, to be honest, it's all very well to argue that teams such as Bangladesh need exposure at the highest level, but what are they really learning from being embarrassed by England and having the stuffing knocked out of them?" said Hamilton. "I thought, at the time we met them in 1999, that we were a better side and, considering the experience which the Saltires have gained from competing in the NCL, I would put money on us to beat the current Bangladesh line-up any day of the week."

"Frankly, there is a huge gulf between the likes of Australia and England and the emerging nations and it won't be bridged by flinging the minnows in at the deep end. It's not as if they even have three or four world-class performers, whom they can build the rest of the team around, so it has been a mismatch and I don't envy Dav Whatmore in the build-up to the Second Test.

"You can't blame England - they are being thoroughly professional in their approach and that is far preferable to them patronising the tourists - but the ICC has to address this situation and prepare properly for the future, by creating a second division of Test cricket, hopefully including Scotland, rather than sit back and watch a bunch of youngsters [the average age of the Bangladesh squad is 22] being thrashed with two days to spare."

One certainly suspects the Scots might have mustered sterner resistance - and less wanton shot selection - than Habibul Bashar's contingent, but, as Hamilton admitted, his confreres have themselves flattered to deceive on a number of occasions in the past and cannot countenance any slip-ups in their World Cup qualifying bid, despite journeying to Ireland with grand ambitions.

Hamilton, whose presence will add solidity to an increasingly resilient middle order, said: "I've talked to Dougie [Brown] a lot recently, and I am looking forward to playing against him and Warwickshire, but there are several guys in the Scotland ranks who know they won't get any more opportunities if this World Cup chance slips away, and that is a massive incentive. We are not heading over there, thinking that five spots are up for grabs, we are aiming to win the event outright, and if we reach our potential, I have no doubt we can manage that objective."

"But there is a growing toughness within the lads and their work ethic is exemplary. We have entered these tournaments as favourites before, and fallen on our faces, but the Intercontinental Cup demonstrated that nobody is interested in making excuses, we simply want to step up to the plate and keep sending messages to the ICC that we are worthy of their support.

"In the past year, Scotland have beaten Bangladesh, defeated Kenya and Canada, and upped the ante against the counties, to the extent that some were disappointed with 252 against Surrey. But none of that matters unless we raise the bar several notches and our goal is straightforward. We have five group matches at the ICC Trophy. We want to win them all and I am 100% convinced we can do so."

Hamilton's life has provided a series of dramatic vignettes, so perhaps it's appropriate that his Saltires debut should occur at Stratford. For him and his colleagues, all the world's truly a stage.