THE 31-match run of successive Test appearances by Kent wicketkeeper Geraint Jones has ended with his axing from the England squad to face Pakistan at Headingley.

The Kent man had been an injury doubt for the game, starting this Friday, after breaking the tip of his right ring finger in the Test triumph at Old Trafford last week.

But despite announcing his fitness and availability to play in Leeds, the selectors have chosen this moment to drop the 30-year-old Ashes winner.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: “Geraint has kept very well this summer, but he has been short of runs and the selectors feel that this is the right time to make a change.

“We have taken this decision regardless of the injury to Geraint’s finger. The key factor for the selectors was his form with the bat and we believe that he will benefit from having a break from international cricket and spending more time in the middle with his County.

Jones said: “It’s a blow to lose my place, but the selectors have explained the reasons why and I will be working extremely hard to win it back.

“I have been very pleased with my wicket-keeping this summer but I am also conscious of the fact that I am in the side as a batsman as well as a keeper.

“Your performances in Test Matches are always going to come under intense scrutiny and what I need to do now is recapture my best form away from the international arena.

“It’s up to me to go back to Kent, and as soon as my finger has recovered, look to score plenty of runs and put myself back in the frame for the Ashes this winter.”

Jones could well line up for Kent in Wednesday’s crucial four-day clash with Hampshire at St Lawrence while his England place goes to Nottinghamshire’s Chris Read, who is enjoying a steady season with the bat having scored 600 runs at an average of 42.

England Test Squad:

Andrew Strauss (Middlesex), Ian Bell (Warwickshire) Paul Collingwood (Durham), Alastair Cook (Essex), Stephen Harmison (Durham), Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire), Jon Lewis (Gloucestershire), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire) Chris Read (Nottinghamshire), Marcus Trescothick (Somerset).