BBC Sportcricket

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Related BBC sites

Page last updated at 14:35 GMT, Tuesday, 16 December 2008

Jones still has England ambitions

Geraint Jones
Jones was replaced by Chris Read as England wicketkeeper in 2006

Kent wicketkeeper Geraint Jones has said he has not given up hope of an England recall for the Ashes series next summer.

Jones was part of the victorious Ashes side of 2005 but fell out of favour with the selectors a year later.

The 32-year-old told BBC Radio Kent: "I've got strong ambitions to get back in the team."

"I want to work really hard this winter and be the next best candidate should anything happen to Matt Prior."

Jones added: "All I can do is look after myself and make sure I'm in the best form I can be in.

"If circumstances come my way where the position becomes open I want to make sure selectors know I'm playing well and I'm the man they want to pick."

England didn't bowl India out, so obviously that's an area they'll look at and Amjad's suited to the conditions over there

Geraint Jones on Amjad Khan

England have experimented with a series of replacements for Jones, including Chris Read, Paul Nixon and Matt Prior - who got 50 with the bat in the first Test against India in Chennai.

Meanwhile, Jones believes the England selectors should now give his Kent team-mate Amjad Khan a chance to prove himself in the second Test.

He said: "England didn't bowl India out, so obviously that's an area they'll look at and Amjad's suited to the conditions over there."

Jones also thinks other Kent players, including bowler Robbie Joseph and young batsman Joe Denly, should soon get international recognition.

"The success we've had at Kent has rubbed off and selectors have noticed those individuals," he said.

"I think Joe was desperately unlucky not to have been involved in the one day series but he's young and he's got a lot of chances.

"For us at Kent we're excited about our squad and the future of those young individuals."



Print Sponsor


see also
Jones back to roots on MCC tour
23 Feb 07 |  England
Jones eyes county batting return
01 Aug 06 |  England


related bbc links:

related internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites