Jones optimistic about Ashes

Simon Jones believes he may yet feature in the 2006/07 Ashes series, despite keyhole surgery expected to put him out for five months.

He underwent the surgery on his left knee in the USA earlier this month. He twisted his left knee, not the one he injured at Brisbane four years ago, in India. Before then, his last Test was England’s victory at Trent Bridge last year, where he suffered bone spurs in his ankle.

Following the surgery, he was reported as being out of the series, but he believes he still has a chance of making it: “The annoying thing for me is that people have said I am not going to make the Ashes tour. That’s not true. I’m working hard and the Ashes tour is a long way off, it’s about five months or so. I’ve just got to get back bowling before then and prove my fitness.”

Should he recover in time, it may well be a huge boost for England, as he was an inspirational part of their victory last time.