Hamilton agrees loan deal to Scotland

Gavin Hamilton will be part of Scotland's squad for their next six National League matches after a loan agreement was reached between Durham and the ECB.

Hamilton will be available to Scotland to help him, and the rest of the squad, prepare for the ICC Trophy, in Ireland during July, from which the top six teams qualify for the 2007 World Cup. Hamilton goes straight into the squad for the double-header over the Bank Holiday weekend against Warwickshire and Yorkshire.

Scotland's coach, Andy Moles, said: "This is a wonderful, win, win, win development. Durham coach Martyn Moxon has been very supportive, because he wants Gavin to play as much as possible at the top level. We think Gavin will be a great addition to the Saltires, and his presence gives us all a boost as we progress towards the ICC Trophy."

Hamilton, who was Scotland's leading player during the 1999 World Cup in England, played one Test for England, against South Africa in 1999, but bagged a pair and rapidly disappeared off the radar. He suffered the yips and tried to reinvent himself as a specialist batsman, although he is now bowling again. However, following his move from Yorkshire to Durham in 2004 he has failed to command a regular first-team place.

Squad Craig Wright (capt), Yasir Arafat, Jonathan Beukes, Cedric English, Gavin Hamilton, Majid Haq, Paul Hoffmann, Dougie Lockhart, Dewald Nel, Colin Smith, Ryan Watson, Fraser Watts, Greig Williamson.