Geraint Owen Jones

Geraint Owen Jones

Born in Papua New Guinea to Welsh parents, Jones grew up and learned his cricket in Australia before moving to England in 2001 at the age of 25.

He finally was given a chance in the last Test against West Indies in April 2004 after watching the tours to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and three Tests in the Caribbean, from the pavillion.

With the search still on for a possible successor to Alec Stewart, Jones' superior batting makes many feel he might be the answer.

And Jones didn't disappoint on debut, with tidy keeping and a patient 38 in which he held ground for almost two hours.

But bigger scores will be needed if Jones is to cement his place in the Test line-up and New Zealand's tour seems the perfect opportunity.