Main contenders

Chris Read

Born: 10/8/78 England exp: 3 Tests, 9 ODIs County: Nottinghamshire Domestic one-day record: 1619 runs at 21.02, 137 catches, 31 stumpings

The Nottinghamshire gloveman was just 20 when he was identified as Stewart's successor.

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

But his batting form has gradually improved at county level, including an innings of 180 for the National Academy against Australian state side New South Wales in February.

And it was significant that he was called up in preference to Test back-up James Foster as cover for Stewart in the VB Series in Australia.

James Foster

Born: 15/4/80 England exp: 7 Tests, 11 ODIs County: Essex Domestic one-day record: 387 runs at 20.36, 48 catches, 11 stumpings

Thrown in at the deep end after a single full season of county cricket, Foster seems the natural choice as Stewart's replacement in the Test side.

But the England selectors have so far proved reluctant to view him as one of their six frontline one-day batsmen, as his style does not appear to favour fast scoring.

Opening batsman Marcus Trescothick was preferred for much of the one-day series in New Zealand a year ago after Foster struggled for confidence.

Mark Wallace

Born: 19/11/81 England exp: - County: Glamorgan Domestic one-day record: 280 runs at 16.47, 28 catches, 9 stumpings

The former England U19 captain has been touted as a successor to Stewart since his selection for the National Academy in 2001, and his return to Adelaide this winter.

He only gained a regular spot in the Glamorgan side that won the one-day National League last season after an injury to batsman Matthew Maynard.

But Wallace is highly-rated behind the stumps and displayed his batting ability in the County Championship last year in completing a maiden century against Derbyshire.

Other candidates

Andrew Pratt

Durham's man behind the stumps is considered one of the best technicians with the gloves in county cricket.

VOTE RESULTS Chris Read  33.15%  James Foster  31.02%  Mark Wallace  19.09%  Other  16.74%  3101 Votes Cast Who should succeed Alec Stewart?

But a first-class batting average of 20.04 may undermine the 28-year-old's one-day claims.

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.

A former England U17 captain, he was sufficiently established in his county side for Sussex to complain when Prior was called up by the national U19 side two years ago.

Tim Ambrose

With team-mate Prior generally commanding the gloves, Australian-born Ambrose has been forced to establish himself as a front-line batsman in the Sussex side.

However, the 20-year-old's skills behind the stumps are such that he may be preferred if England are on the look out for an extra batsman who happens to keep wicket.