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Simon Jones drafted in

Tuesday, February 24 2004

After passing through the England 'A' tour of Malaysia and India unscathed, Simon Jones has been added to the England Test squad for their upcoming tour of the Caribbean.

Jones will fly back to Wales later this week before linking up with the Test squad in Jamaica. Jones took ten wickets in the recent tour match against Tamil Nadu. Jones' return to the Test squad comes 18 months after his horrific knee injury on the first day of the first Test at the 'Gabba in England's tour of Australia in 2002/03. He has played little cricket since and played only one Second XI game for Glamorgan in 2003.

"Simon is now fully recovered from injury," said David Graveney, England's chairman of selectors. "Rod Marsh (England A's coach) has been pleased with his progress. He has worked hard on building up his fitness over the winter, and I'm sure that his wicket-taking capabilities will be a real asset to Michael Vaughan and Duncan Fletcher in the Caribbean."

"When the ball starts to get old that's when he wants to bowl very fast and any team can use a bowler of that nature," added Marsh. "I'd like to think he's going to do very well."

Yorkshire pace bowler Steve Kirby has been called as an replacement for Simon Jones. Kirby has been training with Dennis Lillee at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai (Madras). Lillee is reported to be impressed with Kirby's pace.


Posted by Craig