I am hoping to put enough pressure back on the selectors that I get a third chance Chris Read

Nottinghamshire's Read hit a majestic 120 not out for England A against the touring Pakistan side, his third first-class century of the season.

And he said: "My batting was mooted as the only reason I was axed.

"In the past two-and-a-bit years I have done a lot of work to get my batting up to scratch. It is frustrating to be on the outside," added the 27-year-old.

Interview: Chris Read

Read, who was watched at Canterbury by England's third selector Geoff Miller, added: "One of my main aims was to score more hundreds this year and so that has been very pleasing.

"Certain criticism levelled at me in the past was that I got out too often in the 50s, 60s and 70s."

Read's second spell as England's gloveman came to its conclusion in the Caribbean when coach Duncan Fletcher identified Geraint Jones as the man to take the team forward.

Now with Jones struggling with the bat in recent Tests, Read is attempting to compile a compelling case for a recall.

The one way I was going to get back into the England side was through weight of runs Chris Read

"I was devastated to be dropped at that stage [spring 2004], especially as I felt I'd contributed well with the gloves to getting an unassailable 3-0 lead in the West Indies.

"To lose my place was disappointing and to lose it in the one-day team was doubly so.

"Even though I hadn't scored the runs I felt that while the team were winning and I was performing behind the pegs, that the runs would come but that obviously wasn't good at enough at the time.

"The one way I was going to get back into the England side was through weight of runs, so that became the number one objective.