Friday, 27 June 2008
Fast bowler Simon Jones is not far from being ready for an England recall, according to his county coach.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes believes Jones is back at full pace after three frustrating seasons recovering from injuries.

Jones has taken 19 wickets so far this season and Rhodes said: “When he bowls well, he bowls as well as anybody.

“But he knows he has to get overs under his belt and take wickets to fight his way back into the England side.”

The 28-year-old has not played for England since the fourth Ashes Test victory at Trent Bridge in 2005.

Jones was England’s top wicket-taker in their first series win over Australia in 18 years, taking 18 wickets in four Tests and was the stand-out proponent of reverse swing.

He missed the final Test at the Oval with an ankle injury, before sustaining a problem with his left knee in April 2006 which kept him out of action for almost two years.

But since switching counties from Glamorgan to Worcestershire in October last year, a revitalised Jones has taken 19 first-class wickets in 2008, including five-wicket hauls against Hampshire and Gloucestershire.

He’s enjoying himself and putting himself in the shop window for further honours,” Rhodes told BBC Sport.

“He has a wonderful bowling action and we have seen this year he can get his pace up to 90mph and has excellent qualities of orthodox and reverse swing bowling.

“He knows he has to bowl consistently well. There are a lot of good bowlers playing for England and on the fringes.”

Jones faces stiff competition from fellow seamers Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard, who have not featured for England since the tour to New Zealand in March.

“They want their places back - there’s no formality that he (Jones) will automatically getting back into England side,” said Rhodes.

“He’ll have to take wickets, but I’ll be happy with that because that means he has taken them for Worcestershire.”

Jones has made 18 appearances for England since making his Test debut in 2002, taking 59 wickets at an average of 28.23 runs per wicket.

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