Read sweeps England's Monty Panesar during his century at Lord's

Wicketkeeper Chris Read gave England's selectors a reminder of his abilities with a century for Notts against MCC.

Read, who has not played for England since being left out in favour of Geraint Jones in 2004, was unbeaten on 110 as Notts declared on 471-5.

He shared 170 for the fifth wicket with Jason Gallian, who smashed 171.

Mark Ealham added a swashbuckling 112 from just 53 balls before the MCC were reduced to 24-1, needing an unlikely 471 more to win on the final day.

Notts, who held a 23-run first innings lead, began the day at 68-3 and lost Will Smith for 39 before lunch.

Smith edged Mark Footitt to keeper Steve Davies and then ball rebounded to Rikki Clarke at first slip.

Australian-born Gallian, who played three Tests for England in the mid-90s, struck 27 fours and a six before he was caught off Monty Panesar.

England spinner Panesar will be hoping to return to Lord's against Sri Lanka on 11 May but found little initial assistance in the early-season surface.

He was hit for 22 in one over by Ealham, who struck an astonishing 11 fours and eight sixes in his brutal innings.

Read, by contrast, was more circumspect, spending over three hours at the crease, but still lofted two sixes in addition to 14 fours, with England chairman of selectors David Graveney in attendance.