Jones Out for the Series

England's Ashes injury jinx continued as Glamorgan paceman Simon Jones ruptured his anterior cruciate knee ligament diving in the field on the first day in the 'Gabba.

Within hours, Jones had been ruled out for six months, another devastating blow to captain Nasser Hussain who earlier this week hinted that Darren Gough is likely to miss the whole series.

The 23-year-old Welshman, who shook off a side injury to play in the first Test, had been shaping with some promise, taking the only Australia wicket to fall before lunch when he had Justin Langer caught behind.

But then he dived in a routine effort chasing an on-drive from Ricky Ponting and twisted his right knee, leaving Jones clutching it in agony. He was carried off the field on a stretcher and taken straight to hospital for a scan which revealed ruptured cruciate ligaments in the knee, and he now faces six months on the sidelines. The injury is so serious that Jones won't even be able to fly home for a fortnight - a cruel blow for the youngster, who also suffered an injury after making an impressive Test debut against India at Lord's last summer.

"It was pretty tragic for the young man," said England's coach Duncan Fletcher, who has fast-tracked Jones into the Test set-up after first spotting him as a teenager at Glamorgan.

"He has improved in every performance and we were looking forward to seeing him in the Ashes series. He was someone we were really looking forward to putting in our bowling attack - and what Nasser (Hussain) has been calling for, the sort of individual who can pick up quick wickets." Jones will need reconstructive surgery, a process which will sideline him until at least the start of the domestic season next year.

With Andy Flintoff already ruled out because of his groin problem and Steve Harmison suffering from shin splints, it left Hussain with only two specialist seamers for the rest of the Brisbane Test - Andy Caddick and Matthew Hoggard - with support from Craig White and Mark Butcher, plus the spin of Ashley Giles.

Alex Tudor has already been called up to the England squad from the academy in Adelaide to cover for Gough but they may now have to look to another of the young pacemen, such as Hampshire's Chris Tremlett or Lancashire's James Anderson.

"Alex Tudor was always going to stay with us [but] if Darren can't come back then we might have to look for a replacement," added Fletcher.