England's tour management have finally lost patience with the batting form of wicketkeeper Chris Read, promoting Kent's Geraint Jones in his place as he wins his first Test cap in the 4th and final Test in Antigua.

Jones will make his Test debut with an opportunity to prove he can establish himself as a number seven wicketkeeper-batsman capable of delivering on a consistent basis at the top level.

Jones was handed his debut after England showed their ruthless side by changing the line-up which had clinched their first series triumph in the Caribbean for 36 years and dropping Chris Read despite his outstanding performances behind the stumps.

The Kent wicketkeeper, who was born in Papua New Guinea and raised in Australia before playing in English domestic cricket for the first time last summer after qualifying through Welsh parents, has been given an opportunity after impressing captain Michael Vaughan with his batting ability during a practice match prior to the third Test in Barbados.

His 66 against the Carib Beer XI a fortnight ago was enough to end Read's eight-Test run in the side since succeeding Alec Stewart at the start of the winter and England now intend to give Jones an equally-long sequence of matches, including the home Test series against New Zealand starting at Lord's on May 20.

England had hoped Nottinghamshire wicketkeeper Read would develop into the type of player who could propel them to major totals from number seven like Australia's Adam Gilchrist and Mark Boucher of South Africa.

But he has scored only 162 runs in 11 innings since the start of the winter with a highest score of 38 against Bangladesh and the tourists believe Jones, who averaged 44.30 during his maiden season for Kent, is better suited to that role.

"Batting at number seven is a key position in Test cricket and you must score your runs there. We gave Chris the opportunity and it's tough, but you have to make tough decisions in Test matches and that decision has been made," stressed Vaughan.

"We are trying to set our goal to be one of the best teams in the world and they have their number seven scoring runs. If you look at Adam Gilchrist and Mark Boucher and the runs they score and Geraint Jones looks that kind of guy that can probably fill that role."

Read may not be the only change to England's winning line-up with left-arm spinner Ashley Giles facing a late test on a stomach upset which prevented him from practising at the Recreation Ground on Friday.

Worcestershire off-spinner Gareth Batty has been put on standby just in case Giles fails to recover after delivering just 24 overs in that practice match in Barbados since arriving with England in the Caribbean six weeks ago.

But despite his long spell on the sidelines, Vaughan is backing his former team-mate at Yorkshire to adapt to the situation if he is called upon and produce a performance in the final Test.

"It will be hard for Gareth because he has not had much of a bowl and he did not get much of a bat, but when you are on a tour and things happen you have to be able to adapt and that is exactly what he will do," added Vaughan.

"He has got huge potential and not just with his off-spin. He can bat, he is a tremendous fielder and has a great attitude towards the game, but if you look around the world it is pretty difficult for an ordinary off-spinner to create huge pressure in Test match cricket.

"Most of these guys have this mystery ball and Gareth admits it has to be spinning quite hard for him to cause a huge amount of pressure, but he has definitely got the right attitude and belief to go out there and put the West Indies under pressure."

9 Apr, 2004