Ambrose vows to make amends

_{Tim Ambrose has vowed to make the most of his unexpected return to the England Test side}

Tim Ambrose is hoping to take care of “unfinished business” after being granted a Test return this week by virtue of rival wicketkeeper Matt Prior’s paternity leave.

Warwickshire’s Ambrose will be behind the stumps at the Kensington Oval after first-choice gloveman Prior dashed back home following the birth of his first child.

Prior was scheduled to return to the UK on the evening of March 2, his wife Emily’s due date and final day of the Barbados Test, but the arrival of a baby boy this morning brought forward the trip.

For Ambrose, who knew upon arrival here he would play at least one Test, it offers the chance to put pressure on his former Sussex team-mate for the final Test in Trinidad.

“It is just one game at the moment,” said Ambrose. “I’ve been told that Matt has gone back and I’ve got this match to try and get us back into the series.

“I don’t know anything that will happen beyond this match as far as the team goes, but I know that Matt will be back in time for the Trinidad Test.

“Like anyone who has been in the England side and had a taste of the top level and then gets left out, you’re desperate to get back in.

“You go away and work on the things you feel you need to improve on to get you back and that is what I’ve been doing in the time I’ve had out.

“At my age and at my stage of my career I think there is some unfinished business with England and I’d like to try and push on with that.”

Ambrose, 26, displaced Prior behind the stumps for the tour of New Zealand 12 months ago but there was a role reversal after he had a poor series with the bat against South Africa last summer, in which his highest score in four matches was 36.

“There isn’t much time to feel sorry for yourself in this game and life goes on,” said Ambrose. “I was pleased with my performances in my first stint as England wicketkeeper although I’d like to have contributed a bit more in the series with South Africa because that was such an important series for us.

Ambrose is due to take over behind the stumps from Matt Prior who has returned home

“It was very disappointing not to come out on top in that one and I wanted to contribute more.”

With Andrew Flintoff already ruled out through injury, England will now have to make a minimum of two middle-order changes in their bid to level the series.

Selecting Prior - who averages in excess of 40 at Test level - at number six would have allowed the tourists to retain a five-man bowling attack in their quest for victory.

That route of selection is less likely now, however, although Ambrose would be prepared to fit into the top six if deemed necessary.

“Certainly if they asked me,” Ambrose said. “Just to get into the XI for England is my aim, so any job they ask me to do I’ll only be too happy to give it everything I’ve got.

“It is a chance to help win a game for England and that is what we’re here for. We’ve got a series to win and we’re 1-0 behind so we have to get back into it in this game.

“It is a chance for me to contribute towards winning a Test match.”

Ambrose acclimatised with 74 in his first England appearance of the winter, against a Barbados Cricket Association President’s XI yesterday.

“Yes it is a bit earlier than I was expecting, but knowing beforehand that I’d be getting a game meant I’ve been preparing for it and I feel pretty ready for the week ahead,” Ambrose added.

Prior’s decision to temporarily quit the tour follows that of now captain Andrew Strauss to miss the Lahore Test in 2005-06 to be at the birth of his first child.

England players are allowed to take paternity leave as part of their contract agreements and Flintoff famously reneged on his decision to return home for the birth of his second child Corey after being made captain on the tour of India later that winter.

“Clearly it’s a special set of circumstances,” said England cricket managing director Hugh Morris. “Matt is well aware of the situation we are in out here but we have provision for paternity leave and he is within his rights to take that.

“It’s now obviously a challenge for the selectors out here to look at.”

England Lions wicketkeeper Steve Davies has been summoned from New Zealand as cover and should arrive in the Caribbean on Wednesday evening.