Main contenders

Chris Read

Born: 10/8/78 England exp: 3 Tests, 19 ODIs County: Nottinghamshire First-class record: 4040 runs at 27.48, 317 catches, 14 stumpings Read answers your emails

Although he was annointed heir apparent when he took over from Stewart in the one-day side this summer, Read has been this far before.

The Nottinghamshire stumper was just 20 when he replaced Stewart in the Test series against New Zealand in 1999.

He struggled to make his mark in three Tests and a nine-match one-day series in South Africa, showing a weakness keeping to spinners in particular.

But his batting has gradually improved at county level.

And although he was given little opportunity to prove that during the recent one-day series, his impressive glovework led many to call for Stewart's immediate replacement in the Test side.

James Foster

Born: 15/4/80 England exp: 7 Tests, 11 ODIs County: Essex First-class one-day record: 1826 runs at 25.71, 116 catches, 12 stumpings Foster interview

Thrown in at the deep end after a single full season of county cricket, Foster has been left to fill in the blanks at county level.

That tour of India and New Zealand in 2001/02 provided experience but also highlighted technical flaws and undermined his confidence.

Few believe he will not return to international cricket but as yet the 23-year-old does not stand out from a crowd of candidates, either with bat or gloves.

Geraint Jones

Born: 14/7/1976 England exp: - County: Kent First-class record: 1089 runs at 49.50, 53 catches, 3 stumpings Jones interview

Kent released former England back-up keeper Paul Nixon because of Jones' performances in the 2nd XI last season, and he has returned the faith with two centuries.

The 27-year-old joined the front-runners after his name was dropped as a possibility by chairman of selectors David Graveney at the beginning of the summer.

Born to Welsh parents in Papua New Guinea and raised in Australia, he would certainly add a cosmopolitan edge to the side.

Other candidates

Matthew Prior

Since his Sussex debut in 2000, the South African-born 21-year-old had gradually improved his batting, with a maiden first-class ton last year.

But he is yet to score runs in a quantity great enough to step into Stewart's shoes, and he has been forced to share time behind the stumps at Hove with Tim Ambrose.

Phil Mustard

The 20-year-old burst onto the scene last year with a run-a-ball 75 against the Sri Lankan tourists, prompting comparisons to Australia's Adam Gilchrist.

He has already displaced Andy Pratt in the Durham team this summer, and will be part of the Academy next winter, but further promotion may be a little premature.

Mark Wallace

The Glamorgan player has been touted as a possible one-day keeper since his selection for the Academy in 2001, and his return to Adelaide last winter.

Highly-rated behind the stumps, Wallace hit a maiden County Championship century last year but is still inconsistent with the bat.