Read, 19, whose outstanding wicketkeeping performances for England Under-19s against Zimbabwe helped him to leapfrog regular county glovemen and earn a place on the England A tour this winter, has managed to square an awkward circle.
He was keen to further his formal education, while Gloucestershire were determined to keep him on stand-by should Jack Russell be claimed by England or injury.
The solution dreamt up by Stovold, the director of coaching at Gloucestershire and himself a former wicketkeeper, was to arrange a scholarship at Bath University, financed by the county, which gives Gloucestershire the freedom to call on him at any time.
Philip August, the county's cricket secretary, said: ``Although Chris's performances for the second XI have not been that startling, he is clearly a very promising player.''
At least Read will be second rather than third choice Gloucestershire keeper next year. Richard Williams, frustrated by his lack of opportunity, has elected to try his luck elsewhere.
ONE of Britain's more unusual cricket matches is due to be played next Friday, weather permitting.
The Brambles sandbank in the Solent appears above sea level for only a few hours a year and the rival Royal Southern Yacht Club and Island Sailing Club by tradition feel content if they can sneak in half an hour's play before retreating to their escape craft.
Last year's match fell foul of strong winds.
DICKIE BIRD may have cornered the market in public shows of umpiring emotion, but there could be a few moist eyes at Bristol next week.
A sympathetic piece of fixture planning has pitted Gloucestershire against Lancashire in the last set of championship games and the match will also mark the final umpiring appearance of Barrie Meyer (a former Gloucestershire player) and Jack Bond (Lancashire), who have both passed their 65th birthday. A dinner has been arranged in the outgoing umpires' honour for next Friday.
FLOODLIGHTS will be in operation at Hove for the second time this season next Saturday, the third day of Sussex's final game of the season. They will not shine on the first XI, however. The lights have been called back for the finals of the Flora Cup, the Sussex Under-10 Kwik Cricket tournament.
More than 600 tickets have been sold already, two marquees will be erected, barbecues, bars and live music will start as soon as play ends in the championship match and the four semi-finalists - Hastings, Balcombe, Barns Green and The Lamb CC - will be competing for £1000 when the final starts at 8.45.
JACK SIMMONS, whose eating feats were a match for his achievements with either bat or ball, managed to introduce a culinary note when he was appointed Lancashire chairman on Thursday.
The official county announcement of Simmons's appointment came with the quotes: ``I hope now that we can all communicate and work together, whether it be players, administrators, caterers or groundstaff.'' Food for thought there.