Read ready to reap rewards

Chris Read took over the gloves for England midway through this summer © Getty Images

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Chris Read is confident he will retain the gloves for the Ashes defence this winter after his patient wait to displace fellow wicket-keeper Geraint Jones.

Read, 28, is in his third life as a Test cricketer and believes he is in pole position to be named in the XI for the opening match of the series in Brisbane next month.

He certainly answered the call for productivity with the bat from the number seven position, upon his recall in late summer, with a half-century among his 126 runs in three innings against Pakistan.

That emphatically ended his absence from the side, which began when he was axed at the finale of the 3-0 win in the Caribbean in the spring of 2004.

“I would like to think I have an advantage,” said Read. “Having finished the end of last season in charge of the gloves I would like to think I would go into the opening games in Australia as the number one.

“Then it is up to me really and I will be working very hard to make sure I score the requisite runs.

“It has been made very clear to whoever takes the position at number seven that it is very much a run-making position.

“In the three knocks I had I got some good starts, some reasonable scores, for me the next challenge is to go on and get big scores.

“Obviously I would like to do that early on and reach three figures, or certainly make a really big contribution on the batting side.”

Geraint Jones' prowess with the bat meant he was given an extended run © Getty Images

Initially displaced due to Jones’ superior batting ability, there is now a possibility that he could miss out again should England feel it a psychological advantage to field a side resembling the one which won the Ashes 13 months ago.

Jones was dropped for his own slump in form - he has not reached 50 in his last 10 Test innings - something he failed to rectify during his summer outings with Kent.

Whatever happens next Nottinghamshire’s Read, who has been dismissed cheaply twice in England’s under par batting displays in the ICC Champions Trophy, views this as his last chance to cement his place at the top level.

“Certainly,” he said. “Before I was reinstated in the side I thought I might not play again - those thoughts do cross your mind.

“All you can do is keep working at your day job, which for me was trying to perform well for Nottinghamshire.

“Now I am back here you can’t take anything for granted.

“If you are not up for it and not wanting to give it your all you should not be playing, so for me every game is a chance to impress.

“On the other hand I don’t think I am established in the side and it would be quite arrogant to think I was, maybe a touch naive, so these next few months will certainly shape the future of my career at international level.”

Chris Read takes some time out from training in India

During that period his fiercest rival will also be his closest companion, such is the lot of wicket-keepers on tour.

It follows other tussles between England glovemen over the years, most obviously Bob Taylor’s with Allan Knott and Alec Stewart competing with Jack Russell.

“It is not an easy situation,” said Read, who rarely spoke to Jones during his exile due as much as anything to the heavy international scheduling.

“It has been the case for years in touring sides.

“When you take two keepers out for one spot there is always going to be competition and that is obviously very healthy.

“As for me and Geraint this will be our third winter together, obviously the circumstances have chopped and changed a bit but we do a lot of close work together at practice and in the gym.

“When it comes to the on-field stuff whoever is in possession has to be supported because you have to support England.”

Read will be packing three pairs of red gloves for the trip, the same colour the legendary Knott donned in his pomp, in the expectation of one of them at least being worn out by the new year.