MOST cricketers dream of hundreds, but Chris Read has a much bigger number in mind before he ponders calling time on his career.
The veteran wicket-keeper has 958 First Class dismissals to his name and though not normally a man for statistics and records, he says reaching 1,000 matters having seen one his heroes get there when he was just starting out.
He said: " To reach 1,000 would be a great target.
"It's attainable if I play all next year. I'm always being told who I've passed in the Notts dismissals list.
"It never really registers. Some of these guys played so long ago I don't who they are!
"I remember being at Gloucestershire when Jack Russell had his 1,000th and I thought what a great achievement it was. I'd be pretty proud if I can get there as well."
The 35-year-old has enjoyed a fine career having won 15 Test caps and played in 36 One Day Internationals and a single Twenty 20.
This season he played his 300th First Class game, 100th Notts T20 match and he has featured in 99 one day games for the club.
But with time ticking by and one year left on his Notts contract he admits it will be time consider if he wants to carry on when that deal ends.
"Of course I think about the future. Right now I'm taking it year on year," he said. "I've got a contract for next year and hopefully I continue my form and fitness. We'll see post 2015 if I want to continue.
"I'm fortunate enough to have built a long career at the highest level. When I started out I wanted to get to a position where I was playing the best cricket that was possible for me. If that meant playing for the national side then fantastic."
If he continues in the same vein next season as he has this then he should have no worries about carrying on.
He has 657 Championship runs to his name having struggling in 2013 when he only managed 532.
"I'm pretty happy. Last year was a bit of a blip. I've got more Championships runs already this season than I got in the whole of last season," he said.
Read will be hoping the runs continue to flow in all three formats with Notts still in with a chance of a trophy treble.
Victory over Lancashire this week took them back to the top of the County Championship, while they are currently third in the North Group of the T20 Blast with three group games.
They are also the defending champions of the revamped Pro40 competition, which will this year be played over 50 overs. Read says the current run of games is pivotal their season.
"We are at a very important stage of the season. There isn't too much more Championship cricket left," he said.
"We've got a squad to compete on all three fronts.
"We've made no secret that we value the Championship more than the others because it's the big one.
"Our white ball cricket has been good in the last few years as well though. After an indifferent start to this year's T20 we are playing well in that. We'll see what happens in the 50 over competition. No one has played that for a long time unless they're internationals so it will be interesting to see how people adapt."
