Jonathan Batty is a true professional. He is even teaching his biggest rival at Surrey how to oust him as first-choice wicketkeeper.

The experienced gloveman found himself sidelined during Surrey's Twenty20 campaign earlier this season in favour of promising Ireland keeper Gary Wilson.

Twelve years younger than his rival, Wilson is obviously seen by Surrey professional manager Chris Adams as being the future of the county. He was the preferred choice for the shortest form of the game and has returned to the side for Surrey's Pro40 campaign.

It is a situation 35-year-old Batty accepts with a resigned shrug of the shoulders. He said: "Wilson has improved a lot since he joined the team and I worked closely with him pre-season even though his job in the future is to end my career.

"The club made the decision to look to the future during the Twenty20 Cup and obviously I was disappointed but I'm now looking to play positive four-day cricket."

Nevertheless, Batty is aware that his time at the Brit Oval is drawing to a close. Surrey have already been linked with a move for Worcestershire wicketkeeper Steve Davies although Batty insists the idea of a Surrey approach should be taken with a pinch of salt.

"Ideally I want to play for as long as possible," he said. "I haven't really thought about the future. I was doing a lot of work with Setanta but of course that has come to an end and I've yet to find the one thing thing that really appeals to me."

At the moment Batty is more concerned with playing for Surrey and making the most of his benefit year. Although the current financial situation means that money is tight, he says people have been very supportive in difficult times.

All his events have made money and there has been very little stress, leaving Batty to concentrate on his cricket.

Having returned to the side for championship game against Middlesex at Lord's Batty has made his mark with the bat. Opening the innings, he posted scores of 44 and 48 in the draw with Kent and 30 as Surrey posted 352-8 in the first innings of their rain-ruined game with Essex last week.

He said: "Mentally, opening is easier than coming down the order. I've felt in good nick all year even though I haven't produced a big score.

"As a team we're blowing hot and cold, but there are some really good signs and it's great to see some of the youngsters coming through. We just need to find some consistency."

Have stood up to some of the best spinners in the world like Saqlain Mushtaq and Harbhajan Singh, Batty is full of praise for Warlingham off-spinner Simon King, who made his championship debut for Surrey at Lord's.

Batty said: "King has always looked good. His record in the second team has been outstanding and he looked to the manor born against Middlesex.

"He's a more traditional off-spinner than Saqlain. He does like to give the ball some air and gets a lot of over spin and is a good fielder too."