Geraint Jones is relishing the opportunity to emulate Adam Gilchrist as England press for double success in South Africa.

Wicketkeeper Jones has been entrusted with a new role as opener as Michael Vaughan's tourists seek to follow their 2-1 Test series victory with another triumph in the best-of-seven one-day campaign.

A reshuffle to accommodate Ian Bell resulted in Vaughan and coach Duncan Fletcher asking Jones to switch back to the top of the order, having briefly batted at number three in last summer's NatWest Series.

The 28-year-old has been promised a run in the position, which led to obvious comparisons with the world's most famous gloveman Gilchrist, although the Australian accent is the only thing common to both at this stage.

While Jones has shown huge promise as a hard hitter at international level, Aussie run machine Gilchrist has ten hundreds in a 202-match one-day career during which he has scored at only a touch below a run a ball.

''That is a big comparison,'' said Jones, ahead of today's day-nighter at Goodyear Park.

''He leads the way, he's a fantastic striker of the ball, there is only one Gilchrist and if I try to live up to him then I will get into a bit of trouble.

''He is the one that keeper-batsmen are compared to and it is a tough benchmark but not something out of reach.

''It is something for me to aim for, to try to get as close to as I can but still by being myself.''

England are hoping Kent's Jones will cash in on the early fielding restrictions in a new-look partnership with Marcus Trescothick.

They both fell early in the victory at the Wanderers on Sunday as South African pair Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini made the most of the hard ball.

Jones added: ''It is a spot which is well suited to my game, my attacking instincts mean I can use those 15 overs to good advantage to put away some boundaries.

''The new white ball moves around but I just have to be wary and pick the right balls to play the shots.

''My role is not just to go out and try to whack it all over the place, I score quickly enough as it is, so it is important not to get too caught up in it.

''I am there to bat for a long time and hopefully my natural shots will come out.

''Marcus hits the ball extremely well in one-day cricket so there is no extra pressure on me to hit the boundaries.''

Jones is yet to complete 12 months of international cricket but his workload on this tour has zapped the energy levels; he has played every serious competitive match.

Creaking bones and worn concentration perhaps got the better of him towards the end of the Test encounters, when he dropped a handful of chances and kept being dragged wide for catches on their way to first slip.

Alterations to tempo and field placing in the shorter form of the game will allow for such acrobatic attempts now, however.

''After 15 overs have gone I have got no-one next to me and therefore the freedom to do what I want in terms of diving,'' said Jones.

''I was just keen to get some catches and perhaps went looking for them a bit more.

''I was kicking myself a bit there, I expect to take everything so when they don't go in it's a disappointment.

''But I have a big job to keep the team going so I can't dwell on it too much.

''And if I have not had a great time with the gloves I can go out and prove myself with the bat: I want to do very well at both but if one is slightly down I know I can go out and do well at the other.''

Although fast bowler Steve Harmison has recovered well from a calf problem, he may not be risked just yet and would perhaps find it difficult to dislodge any of the three pace bowlers who set up the 1-0 lead at the Wanderers.