Cricket: Jones the Dragon of St George's

Whenever he has escaped the physio's room, Simon Jones has made things happen. Yesterday he played the role of catalyst to perfection.

First he held a stunning diving catch at long leg to get rid of South Africa's captain Graeme Smith. Then he spiked their other big gun, Jacques Kallis, to trigger a spell of four for 18 in 43 balls and swing the game England's way.

"It was an awkward thing because the wind was so strong and the ball was swirling," he said of the catch. "It was a big wicket and it gave me a real buzz."

Sure enough, the confidence spilled over into his bowling. "I hadn't bowled for the 23 overs the night before, which puts a little bit of doubt in your head," he said. "But you do whatever the captain tells you."

A variety of injuries have limited Jones to nine Tests out of a possible 33 since his debut against India at Lord's in 2002, but there have been enough moments to suggest that, fitness permitting, the Welshman can cement his place ahead of James Anderson as England's fourth seamer.

"It's a bit harsh because we're very good friends," Jones said. "But one of us has to miss out and the competition is healthy."

Five wickets against West Indies at Port-of-Spain in March included a back-breaking bouncer at a critical stage of the game to get rid of Ridley Jacobs, who had added 102 for the fourth wicket with Shivnarine Chanderpaul. And there was a mature spell of reverse-swing bowling against New Zealand at Lord's in May that peaked with the vital wicket of Brendon McCullum for 96.

But Jones rated yesterday's performance as his best yet. "Freddie came on and unsettled them a bit and I got a bit of reverse. It felt really good."

"He did a good job," said Shaun Pollock. "He bowled a long spell and kept picking up wickets, which kept knocking us back.

"Jacques was a big wicket. If he had got 100 or more, we could have kicked on to a big score."