Gavin Hamilton hopes Scotland can use the traditional rivalry with England to bridge the chasm with cricket's elite this week.

While the world's best players have been preparing for the World Twenty20 with stints in the Indian Premier League or in English domestic action, Scotland's 20-over experiences have been limited to Wednesday night club matches after work.

Scotland, who face South Africa and New Zealand in Group D, have only one completed match against Test opposition behind them in this format, and that defeat to Pakistan came 21 months ago in the 2007 World Twenty20.

So facing the old enemy England in a warm-up contest at Trent Bridge on Tuesday is a chance to up their levels.

"It is as big as it gets," said Hamilton. "Any Scotland-England game, no matter what sport it is, is always a huge event.

"The Scotland boys are all really excited about it and it's a great incentive because we don't get many opportunities, so when it comes along, the performance levels are raised and the work ethic always goes up.

"It is a national thing and Scotland is a very proud country no matter what they're getting involved in.

"Scotland performing and doing well against England can only be good for the sport.

"We have very little exposure to 20-over cricket. Playing at the World Cup a couple of years ago was an amazing experience even though unfortunately one game was rained off."

Like his international colleagues, Hamilton, 34, is now an amateur who combines his day job with Caledonian Breweries with captaining his country, both in the Friends Provident Trophy and in international fixtures.

Scotland, who Hamilton suggests are in a 'transitional phase', recently failed to qualify for the 2011 World Cup and have enjoyed a rare spell of preparation together this week.

"We always lack continuity as a side for obvious reasons, such as people working, which means we have probably learned more over the last two or three days than we have over a couple of years," Hamilton said.

"For us, it is literally getting some good fixtures against some good players at some good venues and exposing the non-full-time players to these kind of games, which is absolutely crucial.

"At the moment, guys are going to work Monday to Friday, playing club cricket against 70-mile-per-hour bowlers on a Saturday, then turning up on a Sunday and playing against the world's best.

"It is not ideal preparation and people tend to lose sight of what guys are up against when they're in the Scotland side.

"The more games we play the better we are going to be.

"The exposure is not quite there yet for us so this next week will be about that and bringing it to the country."

Veteran Hamilton's performances for Scotland in the 1999 World Cup were integral to him being handed a Test debut for England the following winter in South Africa.

Having been consigned to history as a one-cap wonder, however, he returned to his original colours in later years, and now commutes from Yorkshire where he plays for East Bierley in the Bradford League.

"Scotland is obviously my country of birth and playing for the two countries is a completely different thing," said Hamilton.

"I always aspired to be a professional cricketer in England but Scotland for me is a totally different kettle of fish. To me Scotland is a passion thing."