Read with one eye on Ashes

Chris Read © Getty Images

Chris Read is aiming to build on his encouraging return to international cricket by using this week’s final npower Test at The Brit Oval as a launchpad for the Ashes.

The Nottinghamshire wicket-keeper marked his surprise return to England’s ranks with an impressive display at Headingley to help clinch a 167-run victory over Pakistan which sealed the npower series with one Test remaining.

Read, overlooked for two years while England gave Geraint Jones a run in the side, was impressive behind the stumps and contributed 38 and 55 to the emphatic triumph which followed a similarly convincing win at Old Trafford.

But he is aware that he needs to keep performing if he is to make the wicket-keeping job his own for the opening Ashes Test in Brisbane on November 23 and withstand the competition from Jones.

Read performed well for England in the third npower Test © Getty Images

Read said: “I made no secret of the fact I was surprised to be included in the last Test halfway through a series. I was overjoyed to be selected, but that’s just the first part.

“I was happy with my return but I really do have to take it one game at a time.

“It’s a bit of a cliche, but I don’t know how long I’m going to be around so each game is there for the taking to get out there and achieve what I believe I can in international cricket.”

Currently in his third spell as England wicket-keeper - he made his debut in 1999 and also took over again in 2003 following the retirement of Alec Stewart - Read knows he has to maintain the standards he set at Headingley if he is to be confirmed as the Ashes wicket-keeper.

The selectors are due to announce their Ashes squad in the next month and Read is aware that a good performance both personally and from the team in the final Test can only help his ambitions.

Read is determined to hold on to the wicket-keeper's gloves for the Ashes © Getty Images

“It would be stupid of us if we were a bit arrogant or a bit sloppy in this Test,” he claimed.

“It’s the last Test before the Ashes and I’d like to think we’d go out there confident but also with a view to playing a similar brand of cricket that’s been played in the last two games.

“We have got half an eye on the Ashes and we’ve got to take it forward from here. You’ve always got to be evolving and you’ve always got to be improving with the biggest test still to come this winter.”

He added: “It’s hard not to think ahead to the winter. I did an interview mid-way through the county season and I had a couple of goals - to help Nottinghamshire stay in the top division of the championship and if I did well individually to get picked for this winter.

“It’s still very much a goal and to a certain extent selection is out of your hands, but being the man in possession now it’s also very much up to me.”