England keepers Q&A

Interview: England's Geraint Jones

Interview: England's Chris Read

Read is favourite to start the Ashes series ahead of Jones

The wicket-keeping position in the England Test team has caused plenty of debate among supporters - and the selectors.

Geraint Jones was the incumbent for two years until he was dropped in July to make way for the man he replaced in the Caribbean in 2004, Chris Read.

With just over two weeks to go before the first Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane, BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew spoke to both men.

JA: What went through your mind when the selectors made the change against Pakistan this summer?

GJ: It's not great when you're first left out. For me, it was the first time since starting my professional career so that was a blow, because everything had been on a steady incline since starting for Kent.

At the moment Ready's got the gloves but the one luxury we have is a couple of warm-up games Geraint Jones

At the end I was quite tense and nervous with the bat, which is how I started with the gloves. I'd got to a position where I was quite uptight and generally not happy with the way things were going.

CR: I wasn't expecting to be picked half-way through a series following a game England had just won.

It was wonderful but it did come as a surprise and at the time I was aiming just to get on this trip as the second keeper. It came as a shock but a very nice and enjoyable one at that.

JA: How do you think you've performed since then?

GJ: I was rubbish when I went back to Kent because I was still taking that anxiety out to bat. It wasn't until I took a step back that I saw I was far too intense and worked up, and putting too much pressure on myself.

I went back to basics, standing pretty still and being as relaxed as I can - and I scored some runs in the last couple of Championship games.

Being dropped by England has done me good: physically and mentally I feel fantastic whereas I was drained by the time it came to being left out.

CR: I enjoyed the last two games of the Pakistan Test series even if the last one ended on a slightly strange note!

I got the chance to bat three times and got three starts, and I hope the knock in the second innings at Headingley had some impact in setting up a win. I hope I contributed in some way to doing that.

JA: What does it feel like to be competing for one place?

GJ: Both of us are team players and know that how we do will affect how the team does. We do get on well but it's tough because we're battling for one fairly important position in the side.

It's one of those winters you dream about and I'm really looking forward to it Chris Read

I'm thankful just to be on the touring party. When I was left out last summer there were a few doubts in my head about that so it's great to be here and have the opportunity to stake my claim.

CR: For your confidence going into the series it's nice to get time under your belts both with gloves and bat.

Obviously it would be better for the team if all 11 players were the best in the world at what they do but that's never going to happen and until someone nails down a place for a long period of time there's always going to be competition - and that's healthy.

JA: So what's your gut feeling, who will get the nod?

GJ: At the moment Ready's got the gloves but the one luxury we have is a couple of warm-up games so there is an opportunity for the whole squad to stake a claim for the final XI.

I expect Ready to start in the warm-up games. Hopefully Fletch [coach Duncan Fletcher] might give me a chance and that will be my one chance to show how I've come on since being left out.

CR: It's hard to judge. Having played in the last couple of Tests of the summer and doing pretty well I'd like to think I'll start off in Brisbane and then it's up to me to nail down that place.

I think it's by no means definite. We have a couple of practice games and I'm sure we'll all get a fair crack of the whip.

JA: What will it feel like to be a part of the team that takes the field in Brisbane?

GJ: That was a bit of a goal of mine and it's maybe a little out of reach now. I have family and friends in Brisbane and hopefully I'll be walking out at the Gabba for that Test.

It's a place I've played at before and not a new daunting challenge. Although the first Ashes Test will be massive, it's somewhere I do have a comfortable feeling.

It's going to be a huge series and I'm very keen to play a part in it. How much, we'll have to wait and see.

CR: Very special. It's one of those winters you dream about and I'm really looking forward to it. I used to listen on the radio and fall asleep, but I tried to stay awake as much as possible.

I was actually here the last time and part of the Academy. We had Christmas off and I sat in the SCG on the first day.

It was an awesome atmosphere then but the prospect of playing in one is so much better.