Chris Read has had his day with England, probably

Yesterday Peter Moores said, when talking about the England fast bowlers, that he's "not a big one for looking back. I think you are better looking forward ... looking to build new teams with what you have." Applying that logic to the other positions in the team, it would suggest that there is not going to be another chance for Chris Read. Matt Prior is selected for the India Tests, and James Foster (nearly two years younger than Chris) and Steve Davies (seven years younger) now both would seem to be ahead in the queue of men most likely to pull on the gloves should Prior slip up.

As Chris looks back on his international career (15 Tests and 36 ODIs between 1999 and 2007), he may feel a bit hard-done by and perhaps a victim of Duncan Fletcher's failed bid to save his own job, followed by the regime change. A strong debut against New Zealand and a subsequent solid performance with the bat against South Africa in the winter of 1999 was not enough to keep him in the side and he was dropped, not to return again until 2003. Again he only had a brief spell in white before the wicket-keeping duties were awarded to Geraint Jones. They traded places again in 2006 when Chris got called up for the 3rd Test against Pakistan at Headingley. He didn't do enough to keep his place and it was Jones who went to Australia for the 2006-07 Ashes Tour. However, his under-whelming achievements led to Chris's return for the last two Tests, and Chris may have felt that his strong showing behind the stumps would make up for a poor performance with the bat. It didn't and Paul Nixon nicked the gloves for the Commonwealth Bank Series and the ICC World Cup.

With Fletcher gone, Peter Moores plumped for Matt Prior and may have sealed Chris's fate. But never give up, I'd say, Chris. Keep working hard at Nottinghamshire - an average of 70.30 so far this season could catch the selectors' eyes again if others stumble.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]