BARELY eight months ago Kent wicketkeeper Geraint Jones was clicking his heels in the Caribbean and wondering when his next game of cricket might come.

Idling by a pool in Barbados, Jones dare not have dreamed that England’s selectors were just about to make one of the most controversial selection U-turns of decade - but make it they did.

The blameless Chris Read was ousted for the fourth and final Test in Antigua in favour of Jones, who they regarded as the stronger batter.

Seven Test wins and a maiden Jones’ Test century later, the pair are preparing for a strange case of role reversal in Zimbabwe and South Africa where Nottinghamshire’s Read will this time act as understudy.

“Chris and I haven’t met up ahead of the tour, but I’m sure we’ll be fine,” said Jones, one of eight centrally contracted players in the 14-man one-day international squad.

“It will be different for us both and a complete switch in roles, but we worked well together in the West Indies and I’m sure we will again. I know I will be first choice this time and that I’ll get to play the warm-up games, that will limit Ready’s opportunities and allow me to set my mind of playing.

“But conversely, it also means the pressure’s on me to perform this time around and the selectors have shown with my selection that they will change the side even if we are winning, as long as they think it's for the overall good of the team.”

After acclimatisation in Namibia and a couple of one-day warm up matches, Jones and the England side will arrive in Zimbabwe on November 24 with a heavy heart.

Jones said: “They aren’t a strong side and Australia have just toured there and won convincingly. For a nation that’s still in a lot of trouble they are at least getting their chances on the international sporting stage.

“Apart from the cricket, one of the nicest things about touring is that you really get to see a county, but sadly that won’t be the case for us in Zimbabwe. It’ll be tough because a lot of the time we will just be confined to the hotel.”

Jones acknowledges that the Zimbabwe leg of the tip cannot pass soon enough confirming that, in his eyes, South Africa is the business end.

“Zimbabwe will be good preparation for South Africa because the wickets should be quite similar in both countries,” he reasoned. “You could equate that Zimbabwe will be my pre-season for the main job ahead in South Africa.”

And having been to Port Elizabeth on Kent’s pre-season trip three winters ago, Jones is looking forward to seeing the country and crossing swords with South Africa again.

“We definitely go there as favourites which is strange for an England touring team, but on the other hand it’s good because it shows we are playing well. If we hold our form we will beat them, but that said we will never underestimate them.

“It’ll be a great tour whatever the outcome because cricket against South Africa is always tough, they have a huge passion for the game and are desperate not to lose. It’s bound to be a good battle.”

Jones and the rest of the squad fly out to Namibia on Monday.

ENGLAND'S WINTER ITINERARY

NAMIBIA:

November 21 v Namibia (Windhoek Wanderers)

November 23 v Namibia (Windhoek Wanderers)

ZIMBABWE:

November 26 1st ODI (Harare)

November 28 2nd ODI (Harare)

December 1 3rd ODI (Bulawayo)

December 4 4th ODI (Bulawayo)

December 5 5th ODI (Bulawayo)

SOUTH AFRICA:

December 8 v Nicky Oppenheimer XI (Randjesfontein, Johannesburg)

December 11-13 v South Africa A (Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom)

December 17-21 v South Africa 1st Test (Sahara Oval, St George’s, Port Elizabeth)

December 26-30 2nd Test (Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead, Durban)

January 2-6 3rd Test (Sahara Park, Newlands, Cape Town)

January 13-17 4th Test (Wanderers, Johannesburg)

January 21-25 5th Test (SuperSport Park, Centurion)

January 27 v South Africa A (De Beers Diamond Oval, Kimberley d/n)

January 30 v South Africa 1st ODI (Wanderers, Johannesburg)

February 2 2nd ODI (Goodyear Park, Bloemfontein d/n)

February 4 3rd ODI (Sahara Park, St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth d/n)

February 6 4th ODI (Sahara Park, Newlands, Cape Town)

February 9 5th ODI (Mercades-Benz Park, East London d/n)

February 11 6th ODI (Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead, Durban d/n)

February 13 7th ODI (SuperSport Park, Centurion)