KENT wicketkeeper Geraint Jones was today named in England’s 16-man squad to defend the Ashes in Australia this winter.

The Aussie-raised gloveman was named in the party together with Nottinghamshire’s Chris Read exactly 12 months to the day since Jones and the rest of Michael Vaughan’s heroic side lifted the Ashes.

Though he concedes Read is in possession of the shirt, Jones in no way feels he is going as Read’s understudy.

Jones said: “Obviously Chris is in possession of the place at the moment but to a certain degree it’s still up for grabs.

“It’s almost back to my original tour to the Caribbean and I know this time around I can go out to Australia with absolutely no pressure on me whatsoever.

“My mindset is to go out there, work hard on and off the field and put as much pressure on as I can to get my spot back, exactly as I did to get into the team in the first place.

“In a way it’s all gone full circle for us both.”

Though he has yet to shine with the bat this season, Jones is clearly happy to be back in the Kent dressing room and is looking forward to some pleasant distractions before taking on the Australians once again.

He added: “I’ve enjoyed the past couple of weeks with Kent because there hasn’t been that intense media pressure on me, but I know that in some ways I’d put pressure on myself, because the selectors had told me to go away and score runs.

“I’ve been under pressure for the past year or so, so it’s been nice to get back to basics. Batting wise, I was walking out thinking of getting a big score, and putting myself under pressure as a result.

“Knowing I’m on the tour now I can relax. I did have a few worrying doubts over not being selected because the reality is you do never know.

“I can now go out for the last couple of county games and play with a smile, enjoy my cricket and see where I go from there.

“I’m also getting married at the end of the month, and have my honeymoon after that, which means some time completely away from the game – something I really feel I need now, but until recently hadn’t realised it.”

His county colleague and skipper Key will also be returning Down Under, but as one of the 16-man ECB Academy side rather than in the full Ashes party. Sadly, Kent’s leading wicket-taker Amjad Khan, who is sidelined with a knee injury, was not named in either party.

Key will now work on his technique in Loughborough before going on the Academy’s short tour to Perth from early-November.

Having suffered poor form this season, Key has mustered only 657 first-class runs at an average of 30, this was news the former England batsman fully expected.

He said: “I’m very disappointed with how the season has gone for me personally and the averages show I’m well down on what I can normally achieve.

“I’ve been hampered by the shoulder injury and coming back from surgery, but I’m still only 27 and I’m confident I can pick things up.

“The good thing about my academy selection is that it means I’m still in the frame and you only have to look back at last year to know how quickly things can change in cricket.

“Just 12 months ago myself and Owais Shah were in the frame for selection and both got injured, which allowed Alistair Cook to come from no where and claim the place.

“The roles are reversed a little now, but I’m hoping that being in Perth I can be in situ so to speak, get into some decent form and maybe sneak the chance call up.”

England’s three winter tour parties:

ICC Champions Trophy squad: Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire, captain), James Anderson Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Rikki Clarke (Surrey), Paul Collingwood (Durham), James Dalrymple (Middlesex), Stephen Harmison (Durham), Ed Joyce (Middlesex), Sajid Mahmood(Lancashire), Jon Lewis Gloucestershire),Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Chris Read (Nottinghamshire), Andrew Strauss (Middlesex), Michael Yardy (Sussex).

Ashes Test Series squad: Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire, captain), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Alastair Cook (Essex), Ashley Giles (Warwickshire), Stephen Harmison (Durham), Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire), Geraint Jones (Kent), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire), Liam Plunkett (Durham), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Chris Read (Nottinghamshire), Andrew Strauss (Middlesex), Marcus Trescothick (Somerset).

ECB National Academy squad: Ravi Bopara (Essex), Stuart Broad (Leicestershire), Rikki Clarke (Surrey), James Dalrymple (Middlesex), Steven Davies(Worcestershire), Ed Joyce (Middlesex), Robert Key (Kent), Jon Lewis (Gloucestershire),Graham Onions (Durham), Matt Prior (Sussex), Owais Shah (Middlesex), Tom Smith (Lancashire), Chris Tremlett (Hampshire), Michael Yardy (Sussex).