'The worst thing about being a keeper is stinky hands'
Chris Read talks about how unprepared he was for Test cricket, lessons from Stephen Fleming, and that slower ball from Chris Cairns

"I'd been on a couple of England A tours but there was nothing like Test match cricket" • Getty Images
It was tough. Looking back, I don't think I knew what I was getting into. There was no Lions, there was no England Performance Programme, and I wasn't as prepared as they are now. I'd been on a couple of England A tours but there was nothing like Test match cricket.
Off it, mainly. The intensity and the media scrutiny was a massive change. I'd been a consistent member of Nottinghamshire's first team for 14 months and I'd only played 18 first-class games. I was far from the complete cricketer. I was learning my trade.
It was built up as a battle between us two but the underlying battle was probably between two of the selectors: Duncan Fletcher and Rod Marsh. I don't think there was any animosity between us. We worked hard together, as wicketkeepers do, and both wished each other luck when we went in and out. We just got on with it.
I'm not a massive stats man but at the same time I will look back and be immensely proud of that. We lost both of the games I got six in, which made it even harder to do really, but any wicketkeeper will tell you it's about the bowling.
I'd be miles off.
No idea - I think I'm close to 1000 in first-class cricket, though. Do I need something like 100 more?
I couldn't avoid it. I used to love watching They Think It's All Over. Then they put me getting out on the title credits!
It's the first and only time I didn't see the ball at any stage. Chris Cairns realised he was on to something because the sightscreen at Lord's didn't have any additional screening above it. He'd done the same thing to Aftab Habib, and he ducked like I did and it just missed the leg stump. I didn't think anything of it.
So much. The biggest thing was to keep a level head, to keep calm and to be able to step away from the heat of the battle. He always would have a plan A and would get everyone behind it and we'd love it. He was very methodical and calm.
For consistency, Ian Healy. He was technically sound to all bowling and rarely put a foot wrong.
Jack Russell and Keith Piper were two of a bunch of experienced glovemen that I watched growing up. Warren Hegg and Steve Rhodes were very good too. This was at a time where batting wasn't of as much importance and you could work harder on keeping.
The stinking hands and smelly inners.
Too many of them. Samit Patel. Oh hang on, can I change? Riki Wessels. He's got far too many Zimbabwe stories.
Now this one is Samit. He always wears a black polo shirt, jeans and some brown brogues. That's his standard going-out gear.
Steve Mullaney. He takes it the worst too.
Alex Hales hits it a long way and so does Craig Kieswetter. I'll go with Halesey.
Kieron Pollard. He seems to block balls for six.
Lasith Malinga.
Jos Buttler. He gets me excited, there's a lot of talent there.