Cricket: Glamorgan Hope for Jones Comeback

Simon Jones can deliver a much-needed fillip to English cricket by returning to action with Glamorgan in their Friends Provident Trophy match with Hampshire in Swansea on Sunday.

The 28-year-old pulled out of Glamorgan's championship match against Essex, which started yesterday, to consult a specialist in Loughborough about swelling in the knee on which he had surgery in America a year ago. Jones has made limited appearances for the Welsh county this season at the request of England's management, who are desperate to see him return to the form of two years ago when he played a key role in the Ashes victory.

Glamorgan's chief executive, Mike Fatkin, said yesterday: "Simon is suffering from inflammation in the knee and the advice he has been given is that it is not serious. He hopes to be available for our match against Hampshire on Sunday and a decision on his fitness will probably be made on Friday."

Jones has bowled only 37 overs in competition this season but despite sticking to medical advice to play one week and rest the next, he has suffered persistent swelling in the knee. "It is very frustrating for Simon because he has done everything he has been told to do," said the Glamorgan captain David Hemp. "He is treated by us and is in regular consultation with England's physiotherapists. He sought specialist advice in Loughborough because the knee remained swollen after a period of rest."

Jones' county were one of the few sides to play any significant amount of cricket yesterday as rain and bad light ravaged the start of the latest round of fixtures in the County Championship. Only three games had any play at all and in one of those, Middlesex v Somerset at Lord's, just three balls were possible after the visitors were put in to bat. They were nought without loss.

Play started at St Helen's in the afternoon, with Glamorgan 146 for two at stumps. The opener Gareth Rees and the No4 Mike Powell both ended the day unbeaten on 54, with Tony Palladino taking both wickets for Essex.

The weather relented enough for Surrey to bat for eight overs against Kent in Croydon, the hosts losing the wicket of Scott Newman. They were 18 for one when the rain returned. There was no play between Sussex and Lancashire at Hove, Warwickshire and Hampshire at Edgbaston and Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire at Oakham.