Read will struggle to play it for keeps

Chris Read knows he faces a fight to remain England's No1 wicketkeeper for the rest of this winter.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney boldly announced that Read was first choice to succeed Alec Stewart after the Test squad for Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had been picked four months ago.

But England are unlikely to jump to the same conclusion this week as they start preparing for a four-match series in the West Indies during March and April.

Read did well enough behind the stumps before Christmas and he played a couple of useful innings in less than stressful circumstances against Bangladesh.

But three ducks in six knocks in Sri Lanka underlined just how much England are going to miss Stewart's run-scoring now that Mr Surrey has finally stopped twirling his bat for club and country.

Even worse from Read's point of view, he was dropped to No8 in the order at Kandy and Colombo.

In order to play five bowlers in his Test team, captain Michael Vaughan needs a wicketkeeper capable of holding down a spot at six or seven. If Read cannot do that - or at least suggest he has the ability to do it - then England will be compelled to look elsewhere.

They may not have to look too far in the Caribbean.

Geraint Jones had next to no opportunity to show what he cou ld do in Bangladesh or Sri Lanka.

"He was the one player who went to both countries that didn't get a Test," said coach Duncan Fletcher. "But I think he's a very good cricketer and, with his attitude, he's the kind of guy we want.

"He was still working hard right to the end of the trip."

Jones earned his place on the pre-Christmas trip mainly as a result of his batting, which produced two championship centuries and six other scores above 50 last summer.