Peirson in charge of glove role

JIMMY Peirson was 12 when he sat by the fence at the Gabba and asked Chris Hartley to autograph his wicketkeeping gloves.

More than a decade later, the talented young keeperbatsman (pictured) has taken Hartley’s cherished Queensland Bulls one-day spot.

Peirson, 23, has now usurped Hartley in both the Brisbane Heat Big Bash and Bulls one-day sides.

Hartley, 34, is expected to retain his spot for the Bulls’ Sheffield Shield campaign.

Queensland open their season with a Matador Cup one-day clash against the Cricket Australia XI at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field today and Peirson revealed how Hartley had given him strong support.

“We have been jostling for the same spot, but Harts has been absolutely fantastic,” Peirson said.

“We were told fairly early I was being picked in the oneday team and it is a credit to Harts that he has been helping me prepare for the tournament.

“I have always looked up to Harts and I remember vividly when I was 12, I took my Kookaburra wicketkeeping gloves down to a game at the Gabba and got Harts to sign them.

“I really want to be playing first-class cricket but he (Hartley) still deserves the right to be in that side and he deserves the utmost respect.”

Queensland will be missing regular skipper Usman Khawaja, who is in South Africa for Australia’s ODI series, while fellow left-hander Sam Heazlett misses out (thigh strain.)

Explosive batsman Chris Lynn will also miss the tournament as he recovers from a shoulder injury.