WICKETKEEPER Michael Johnson has won the battle of the gloves and has been named in the Worcestershire squad that kicks-off the 2013 campaign at Lancashire today (11am).

The Australian was recruited from Grade cricket in Perth over the winter to compete with youngster Ben Cox following the release of Ben Scott last term.

New Road director of cricket Steve Rhodes has given the 24-year-old, who has made 10 first-class appearances for Western Australia, the nod for today’s LV= County Championship Division Two pipe-opener and is confident with the way his squad have prepared for the new season.

Former England wicketkeeper Rhodes said: “Michael has been given the first opportunity behind the stumps, but I really have to commend Ben too because his attitude and performance level in practice and the games he’s played in has been outstanding.

“He pushed Michael very close for the starting gloves and it was a 50-50 call.

“It was a difficult decision and both of them are in good nick, but that’s exactly what we want in our squad — competition for places. Ben and Michael are very good friends, but in practice and games they have been going hell for leather, which has to be a good thing for us going forwards.

“Michael is a solid batsman and I’m hoping he will be able to put a stop on things if we have lost a few batsmen in a bit of a clatter of wickets. He’s the type who can hang on in there and be a foil for one of the remaining batsmen to bat with.

“He’s scored hundreds in Grade cricket in Perth, which is a good standard, he’s technically sound and has a good head on his shoulders.”

Rhodes added: “The lads look in great nick — the only slight injury doubt we have is all-rounder Aneesh Kapil, so he isn’t quite ready for the first game of the season, but he won’t be out for long.

“Seam bowler Alan Richardson did have a quad problem, but he was able to get that sorted out quite quickly, so everything is looking good.

“Lancashire are good and two years ago were Division One champions — you don’t become a poor side overnight, they just had a blip and things went against them.

“They’ve added to their squad and I see them as a stronger team now than they were last year, so they are quite rightly favourites to go up.

“I’m really looking forward to it again – it’s always an exciting time of the year. As a player, I used to relish the eve of the first game and similarly as a coach.”

Worcestershire (from): Mitchell (c), Pardoe, Moeen, Samaraweera, Kervezee, Pinner, Johnson (wk), Andrew, Russell, Jones, Richardson, Choudhry.