Read ready for the challenge

Chris Read believes he is ready to step into Alec Stewart's shoes as England's first choice wicketkeeper.

Read was in fine form during the recent Natwest Series and as a result, has put himself in the frame for a place in the England squad for the first Test against South Africa at Edgbaston, which is to be named this Friday.

Read said: "I now believe I have got what it takes to play both forms of the game. I know my own gameplans so much better than I did four years ago."

Read, 24, has three Test caps, all against New Zealand in 1999, and he now feels that his experience at county level, plus 19 one-day international appearances, have sharpened his game.

He said: "When I played for England first time around I was nowhere near the complete cricketer and still don't think I am, if there is such a thing. But the fact is I am a far better player now, having learnt so much over those years just through the experience of playing first-class cricket and analysing my own game."

However, Read may have to bide his time for a second chance. Stewart, who has no plans of retiring, is England's second-highest Test run-scorer behind Graham Gooch and is still first-choice behind the stumps.

But Read holds no grudges: "Alec has been a terrific servant for England all told and I don't dwell too much on how he has done in the past, I just try and do my job as it's required for the team in any given situation.

"Certainly, having done a lot of batting with Nottinghamshire and the Academy over the last 12 months I am very keen to make a statement with the bat and contribute runs."