Peirson dares to dream of Ashes berth

Queensland gloveman Jimmy Peirson knows exactly where he ranks in the queue of Australian 'keepers but that doesn't mean he's not dreaming of a shock Ashes debut this summer. 

With the wicketkeeping spot wide open ahead of the first Magellan Ashes Test at the Gabba on November 23, those donning the gloves around the country in domestic cricket know they're only a few good performances away from having their name right in the reckoning.

"You dare to dream but I've got a lot of hard work to do before that becomes a reality," Peirson told cricket.com.au after Queensland's tense win over Victoria on Saturday. 

After making an impressive start to the season in the JLT One-Day Cup – the highlight a rapid 27-ball 46 at North Sydney Oval against the Bushrangers – Peirson will finally have a golden chance to prove his wares behind the stumps in first-class cricket.

Peirson is now Queensland's full-time wicketkeeper following the retirement of stalwart Chris Hartley, the Bulls legend who played the final match of his record-breaking career last summer. 

Tasmanian Matthew Wade is the incumbent Test gloveman but a barren run with the bat has put his place in the XI in jeopardy, meaning the spotlight will be on those first three JLT Sheffield Shield games and the six state 'keepers. 

But Peirson, who has five first-class matches and three half-centuries under his belt to date, considers himself a long way back when it comes to national selection.

"(The selectors) have openly said the first three Shield games are very important for all 'keepers, there's an opportunity for anyone whoever can take it," he said.

"Everyone wants to play for Australia. 

"There are a couple of good candidates that are still playing good cricket. 

"I think Nev (NSW 'keeper Peter Nevill) was hard done by when he got dropped. 

"He's put some really good performances on the board and in my mind he's the next cab off the rank. 

"There's a lot of ground between me and him and of course (South Australia's Alex) Carey is 'keeping really well. 

"All you can do is be consistent and then before you know it things just happen."

While Shield runs will likely determine who gets the Ashes nod, Peirson's attention has always been pointed elsewhere.

"Wicketkeeping is my focus and it has to be," he said. 

"It's always your first priority. Runs are important as well but that's my second job."

Boosting Peirson's chances is the work he's being doing with new Bulls coach Wade Seccombe. 

Seccombe was to Hartley what Hartley was to Peirson, a long-serving wicketkeeper occupying the state gig for years and unable to break into a dominant national team.

While the 45-year-old is a fresh face on the state coaching circuit, Seccombe has been mentoring Peirson since his teenage years.

"I had a lot to do with Wade as a junior coming through Under-19s, he was actually our coach when we won it a few years ago," Peirson said of Seccombe. 

"He's no stranger to me and I've been pushing for years for him to be our fielding coach.

"Then I got the surprise he got the head coach role. 

"It's good having him around because the last couple of years we haven't really had a 'keeping coach. 

"It's great having another mind around to talk about 'keeping and he was one of the best to do it."