KENT wicketkeeper Geraint Jones will mark down Headingley as his luckiest ground after scoring his maiden century for England in his first ever innings at the Leeds Test venue.

The Australian-raised right-hander was out for exactly 100 after helping England through to 526 all out and into a commanding position in the second Test against New Zealand in Leeds.

Jones has only been to Headingley once before with Kent, that back in September 2002, when he was made 12th man against Yorkshire for a match that marked the axing of his predecessor Paul Nixon.

Jones silenced his critics and those pundits calling for the re-call of Nottinghamshire’s Chris Read by reaching three figures from 143 balls, with 15 fours and a six.

It was Jones’ fourth first-class century in only his 30th first-class game since turning professional with Kent last year. He also scored a century against the Kiwis in a three-day friendly for Kent in Canterbury last month.

Jones became only the 10th England keeper to score a Test century, the third to do so at Headingley and the first in Leeds since Kent’s Alan Knott hit 116 against the West Indies in Leeds in 1976.

County team-mate Martin Saggers also enjoyed a remarkable start to the match, taking the wicket of Mark Richardson with his first ball in Test cricket on home soil, but he faired less well with the bat in posting a second ball duck.

The pair became the first Kent duo since Mark Ealham and Dean Headley (Versus Australia, Old Trafford 1997) to win selection in the same England side.