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Simon Jones In WI?

Thursday, October 16 2003

Simon Jones has pinpointed England's tour of the West Indies next March as a possible comeback from his recent knee injury.

The Glamorgan paceman damaged the cruciate ligament in his right knee when fielding last winter in the first Test against Australia in Brisbane.

Simon Jones has spent the last 11 months recovering from the initial injury and the resulting surgery before making his cricketing comeback with Glamorgan 2nd X1, a match full of incident as his two four-over spells featured a number of no-balls and beamers that saw one Lancashire batsman forced to retire to the treatment table, however even at this early stage it was clear to see that Simon Jones hadn't lost any of his pace through the injury.

To aid Jones on his comeback trail he will use the coming months at the Academy, based at Loughborough University, as an opportunity to strengthen his knee further.

"The knee is nice and strong," he said.

"Obviously it gets stiff from time to time but apart from that it has been good.

"I've been itching to get back and to play three games in the second XI for Glamorgan at the end of last season was a big bonus for me.

"Months ago I thought about the tour of Bangladesh that England are on now as a time for my comeback, but it didn't happen and now I'm looking to West Indies next year.

"It is a personal goal of mine to play for England again then."

"I've got a good medical team around me and they've looked after me well through my rehab," he added.

"I will concentrate on working my socks off until Christmas and then go on tour with the Academy to Malaysia and India in the new year.

"Coming to the Academy will help me. I know I need to work on my fitness and my bowling action as well and this is a perfect opportunity for me.

"Long-term, getting back into Test cricket is the goal."

Posted by Richard