Surrey's Jon Batty believes the England wicketkeeper slot is up for grabs this season, even though Paul Nixon has impressed at the World Cup.

The 33-year-old Clapham-based star believes a rush of runs in the opening weeks of the season would catch the eye of chairman of selectors David Graveney ahead of the summer's first Test against the West Indies in May.

Batty will face stiff opposition for the coveted spot once occupied by England legend Alec Stewart.

The Durham University graduate has a career average of 32.82 with the bat - as good as any keeper in the country - but has been overlooked in the past.

And, with 37-year-old Nixon proving age is no barrier, Batty believes am early run glut could tip the balance in his favour.

"It is wide open. I don't think anyone has really written their name in stone," Batty said ahead of today's first Liverpool Victoria Championship match of the summer against Yorkshire at the Brit Oval.

"People don't notice good keepers because you take your chances, your catches, your stumpings and you don't make mistakes. It is volume of runs and performances with the bat that grab headlines.

"I have scored 12 hundreds in my career, which compares favourably to any other keeper in the country.

"If I can add a couple more at the start there is no reason why I shouldn't be knocking on the door."

Surrey return to the top tier of the English game after romping to the Division Two title last summer on the back of 2,278 Championship runs from Mark Ramprakash.

They just failed to repeat the trick in the NatWest Pro40 competition and Batty thinks the Brown Caps must find more consistency in the shortened form of the game to go with a bid for the four-day title.

"The past two years - getting relegated and having to bounce back last year - have been difficult, but it has reinvigorated everyone," added the former skipper.

"The championship is the number-one goal and it always will be. That is why we play the game.

"We will always be strong in the Twenty20 game, but we have got to get consistency in one day cricket.

"There is no reason why we shouldn't be a very, very good one side."